Our Managing Partner who doubles as the Chairman of the International Trade Law Committee (ITLC) of the Nigerian Bar Association- Section on Business Law (NBA SBL). The ITLC hosted a break out session at the Nigerian Bar Association conference on the 26th of August 2019, the session focused on the theme: ‘The Potential Impact of Brexit on African Trade’. Amongst the panelist at the event were: Mr. Aigboje AID-Imoukuede, Chairman Coronation Capital Coronation Capital Limited; Ms. Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary NIPC; Dr. Andrew Nevin, Partner, PwC; Mr. Declan Freely, Chief Financial Officer, Neconde Energy; Mr. Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale, Managing Director, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange; Mr. Patrick Akinwunyan, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria; Mrs. Folashade Alli.

The bottom-line of the session revealed that the UK is still determined to remain in the common market in order to ensure greater control over migration policy; it was also noted that this may be a tangible opening for Africa to build bilateral trade. As a post-Brexit Britain will be looking to reinforce its relationships with fast-growing emerging markets, as certain members of the ‘Leave’ campaign such as Boris Johnson and James Duddridge, the Minister for Africa, have stated. A natural focus will be the 19 Commonwealth nations in Africa, which share a language, history, system of government and large diaspora populations with the UK.

The session was insightful and well attended, and the lecture delivered by the panelist was well received.