The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has called for a major shift in Nigeria’s legal practice, urging lawyers to move beyond founder-driven models and build firms that can thrive across generations.
Speaking in Abuja at The Convergence Africa Masterclass 26 for Law, themed “Beyond the Founder: Designing Multigenerational Law Firms that Endure and Scale,” Osigwe emphasised the need for institutionalised partnerships, shared responsibility, and effective succession planning.
He noted that many law firms in Nigeria are heavily dependent on their founders, making them vulnerable to collapse when those individuals retire or pass on—a trend that has hindered the growth and global competitiveness of indigenous firms.
Osigwe stressed the importance of adopting sustainable structures that prioritise continuity and collective strength, rather than tying the survival of firms to a single individual.
According to him, embracing partnership-based models would allow firms to combine resources, attract top talent, and build resilient organisations capable of long-term success.
He concluded that the future of the legal profession in Nigeria depends on creating enduring institutions that can evolve, scale, and remain competitive beyond the lifespan of their founders.
