Port Harcourt, Nigeria — April 24, 2026
At a defining moment for Nigeria’s next generation of legal professionals, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Chairman of Platform Petroleum Limited, delivered a compelling keynote address at the NBA Young Lawyers Forum @ 20, urging young lawyers to embrace courage, character, and responsibility as the foundation of meaningful leadership in a rapidly evolving society.
Speaking to a distinguished gathering of legal practitioners and emerging leaders at the event themed “Rising to Lead,” he stressed that leadership is not defined by titles or positions, but by action, sacrifice, and integrity.
Drawing from his personal journey through law, business, and public life, Lulu-Briggs challenged young professionals to stand firmly for truth and to make difficult decisions even in the face of uncertainty.
Recounting a defining moment from his youth, he illustrated how courage and reason can influence authority and drive change, emphasizing that silence in the face of wrongdoing is not neutrality, but consent.
He further described lawyers as gatekeepers of society, entrusted with the responsibility of upholding justice and shaping the direction of the nation.
According to him, Nigeria requires not only brilliant minds but individuals with the courage to act with conviction, urging young lawyers to move beyond passive expectations and take decisive steps toward leadership.
He reinforced this point with a powerful reminder that leadership is not something to wait for, but a conscious decision to step forward and serve.
Highlighting his commitment to community development, Lulu-Briggs pointed to the establishment of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs ICT Centre, an initiative equipping young people with critical skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital innovation, preparing them for opportunities in a fast-changing world.
He concluded with a strong call to action, encouraging young lawyers to seize the moment and step into leadership roles with confidence and purpose, declaring that this is their time to rise and lead.
The NBA-YLF @ 20 event brought together legal professionals from across Nigeria to reflect on two decades of impact while charting a forward-looking path for the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
