Akin Kuponiyi
Memories of legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, came alive on Thursday, when lawyers of repute and workers of the Law publications he left behind 16 years ago at the Headquarters of the publication at Otunba Jobifele way, Alusa Ikeja, gathered together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports, reflecting on four decades of consistent law reporting.
The lawyers and the workers who have been with Chief Fawehinmi, SAN working with the company and its subsidiary for over 38 years ago told journalists that celebrating the enduring legacy of the legal icon is a reflection on four decades of consistent law reporting while unveiling future innovations aimed at strengthening access to justice.
The commemorative event, according to the Chairman of the planning committee, Barrister Oluwole Kehinde, will feature the former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who will deliver a keynote address.
Besides, Barrister Kehinde, who is the Editor of NWLR, hinted that he event, which will be chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will also host jurists, legal scholars, publishers, and Judicial media professionals.
He said the theme of the anniversary, “Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in Technology,” underscores the dual focus of preserving the rich heritage of law reporting while embracing digital innovations that shape modern legal practice.
He said, “the Nigerian Law Report, first published on October 1, 1985, holds the distinction of being the first dedicated law reports in Nigeria and across Africa, the publication succeeded where other publications that preceded it failed “Since its maiden edition, released on Nigeria’s 25th Independence Day, the publication has provided weekly compilations of court decisions, thereby making the law accessible to judges, lawyers, researchers, and students”.
He also said the celebration was not only about looking back at the achievements of the past but also about projecting into the future. “Forty years of uninterrupted publication is a rare feat in Africa’s publishing and judicial history. The Nigerian Law Report has become an indispensable tool for justice delivery, and today we celebrate both its legacy and its promise,” he said.
The Chairman of the Editorial Board, Mr. Ayo Olanrewaju, described the NWLR as “the conscience of legal reporting in Nigeria,” noting that it has consistently maintained editorial independence and a rigorous standard of accuracy.
Also present was Mr. Mojeed Ajao, immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Law Publications Limited, who highlighted the innovations the publication has embraced over the years.
The Acting Managing Director, Mr Gbenga Ogunleye, recalled that in 2019, the Nigerian Law Report launched its online platform, making thousands of judgments available digitally.
“We realised that the future of law reporting must be driven by technology, and that step has allowed practitioners and researchers across the world to access Nigerian jurisprudence at the click of a button.”
Ogunleye, however, praised the Nigerian Law Report for “democratising access to judicial precedents” and called for further innovations, including artificial intelligence-driven search tools and wider open-access platforms.
From its humble beginnings in 1985 to becoming Africa’s longest-running specialised law report, the NLR has played a critical role in strengthening Nigeria’s legal framework. Its consistent weekly publications have ensured that court decisions, an essential component of the nation’s laws, are readily accessible to the bench, the bar, and the wider public.
“As the Nigerian Law Report steps into its fifth decade, stakeholders pledged to uphold its founding vision while harnessing technology to advance justice delivery. The celebration not only highlighted a remarkable journey of consistency but also pointed the way to a more innovative and accessible future in Nigerian law reporting.”
Other notable attendees included members of the editorial board, such as Senior Editor, Simon Evivie, Yinka Olatunji, Sr. Deputy Editor and Editorial Secretary, NWLR; Chidinma Ojigwe, Assistant Editor, NWLR , and Secretary, 40th Anniversary Planning Committee, as well as representatives of the board of Directors.
Leave a Reply