• Laud 40 years of NWLR’s legacy
• Ozoani, others urge lawyers to prioritise mental wellbeing
As the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR) marked its 40th anniversary in Lagos, celebrating four decades of consistent excellence, intellectual rigour, and enduring contribution to Nigerian jurisprudence, stakeholders have underscored the remarkable evolution of law reporting in Nigeria and the continuing relevance of the NWLR in the technological era.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), in his keynote address at the event, commended the NWLR for surpassing its founding objectives of providing access to judgments, supporting the administration of justice, and promoting integrity in Nigerian law and jurisprudence.
He, however, hailed the establishment of the NWLR online in 2019 as a milestone that affirmed the publication’s commitment to digital innovation and global reach.
Fashola, who described the theme of the celebration, “Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in the Technological Era, “as timely and relevant, expressed concern about a growing trend of AI-generated fictitious judgments being cited in courts.
Earlier, a representative of the CJN at the event, a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice John Inyang Okoro, commended the Nigerian Law Publications Limited for sustaining the NWLR’s legacy of accuracy, editorial discipline, and professionalism since its establishment in 1985 by the late Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).
Kekere-Ekun, who described the NWLR as “one of the most trusted, respected, and authoritative repositories of judicial decisions in Nigeria,” noted that the transition from print to digital formats must continue to embody the same precision and authenticity that have made the NWLR a gold standard in law reporting.
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emeka Ozoani, has called on lawyers to prioritise their mental health and emotional well-being, describing burnout as a “hidden epidemic” silently spreading across the legal profession.
He gave the charge at the weekend, in his keynote address at the 2025 Welfare Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, held to commemorate World Mental Health Day.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the NBA, Ikeja branch, Adeniyi Quadri, said the conference formed part of the branch’s welfare initiative aimed at enhancing both professional effectiveness and personal well-being.
Also speaking, Wellness Coach and Stress Management expert, Yetunde Adekoya, urged lawyers and organisational leaders to build empathetic and humane workplaces where performance and wellbeing coexist.
