Posted Thu, Jun 19, 2025 12:35 PM

Ernest Shonekan Centre, NBA-SBL Partner to Drive Business Environment Reforms

Ernest Shonekan Centre, NBA-SBL Partner to Drive Business Environment Reforms

Lagos, Nigeria – June 19, 2025 – The Ernest Shonekan Centre for Legislative Reforms and Economic Development (ESC) and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) have formalised a strategic partnership to advance legislative and regulatory reforms that will strengthen Nigeria’s business environment.

At a formal signing ceremony held in Lagos, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalise a long-standing collaboration. The agreement underscores their joint commitment to promoting economic competitiveness through legal reform, evidence-based policymaking, and stakeholder engagement.

The partnership draws from a deep history of collaboration dating back to 2016, when the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)—the parent body of ESC—alongside NBA-SBL and other stakeholders, contributed to the Comprehensive Review of the Institutional, Regulatory, Legislative and Associated Instruments Affecting Businesses in Nigeria. That foundational effort, supported by UK-DFID’s ENABLE2 and GEMS3 programmes, laid the groundwork for the establishment of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), an ESC-led platform which has since driven landmark reforms, including updates to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), the Investment and Securities Act, and the Arbitration and Mediation Act.

While ESC and NBA-SBL have worked together for years, this agreement formalises their partnership and sets the stage for deeper collaboration in legislative research, policy development, and reform implementation.

Mr. Bukar Kyari, Chairman of the ESC, stated:

“Today is not just a ceremonial exercise; it is the formalisation of a strategic partnership rooted in a shared vision to strengthen Nigeria's legislative, judicial, and regulatory frameworks that support its economic transformation.

“This partnership is a strong statement that both the legal and economic communities recognise the value of dialogue, reform, and strategic alignment. Through this collaboration with the NBA-SBL, we will leverage legal expertise, policy insight, and stakeholder engagement to address pressing challenges and close the gaps that inhibit economic growth and legal efficiency.”

Dr. Uchenna Ogbonna, Executive Director of ESC, noted:

“We are committed to providing the research and policy backbone needed to drive targeted, evidence-based reforms. Partnering with NBA-SBL enables us to bridge legal expertise with economic development priorities.”

Ozofu Ogiemudia, Chair of NBA-SBL, remarked:

“NBA-SBL is proud to formalise this relationship. Working with the ESC enables us to support legal reform initiatives that not only align with global best practices but also respond to the practical needs of Nigerian businesses.”

The partnership will promote joint initiatives such as policy dialogues, legislative reviews, collaborative research, and capacity-building programmes—all designed to enhance Nigeria’s regulatory landscape and improve the ease of doing business.

About the Ernest Shonekan Centre (ESC)

The ESC is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank established by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in 2023 as its dedicated policy subsidiary to champion legislative reforms and economic development. The Centre focuses on research, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen Nigeria’s legislative and policy ecosystem.

About the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL)

NBA-SBL is a specialist section of the Nigerian Bar Association committed to advancing the practice of business law and supporting the professional development of commercial lawyers in Nigeria. It plays a key role in shaping legal frameworks that support private sector growth and investment.