The Managing Partner of Famsville Solicitors, Mr Dayo Adu, has urged legal practitioners to strengthen partnerships to improve access to justice for businesses across Africa.
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He stressed the importance of strengthening legal practice to promote business activities in Africa. Adu made the statement in his address at the African Corporate and Government Counsel Forum (ACGC), an end-of-year networking event, tagged: “Celebrate, Connect, Community”, held in Lagos and organised by Famsville Solicitors.

Highlighting the unique challenges faced by businesses in Africa, Adu noted the various legal barriers including inadequate access to dispute resolution mechanisms, and limited understanding of regulatory frameworks as critical issues facing the profession.

He said: “Access to justice is not just a social imperative, but an economic one. Without it, businesses cannot thrive, and economies cannot grow.” He, therefore, proposed a multi-stakeholder approach, urging law firms, corporate counsel, governments, and international organisations to work together to enhance legal awareness by developing training programmes and resources for businesses to understand and navigate legal complexities.

“We also need to strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms to promote the establishment of affordable and efficient arbitration and mediation platforms.

“In addition, we need to advocate for legal reforms by partnering with policymakers to address systemic issues, streamlining processes, and creating business-friendly legal environments,” he pointed out. He therefore held that the ACGC remains a vital platform for legal and corporate leaders to explore innovative solutions to challenges faced by African businesses.

Adu, who is also the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), underscored the importance of leveraging technology to bridge gaps in legal services, such as deploying digital tools for contract management and access to legal advice.

Some of the participants lauded the managing partner’s vision and echoed the call for action to boost the fortunes of Africa. The participants expressed optimism that with effective partnerships and collaborations, the continent would continue to wax stronger in commercial law practice. Other commentators include the ACGC Co-founder, Nankunda Katangaza and Temitope Sowunmi of Famsville.

“This is a wake-up call for all of us in the legal community. By working together, we can break down the barriers that hinder Africa’s economic potential,” Sowunmi said.
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