The ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards 2025 returns this year as the nation’s gold standard for celebrating excellence, innovation, and leadership within the legal profession.
More than just an award ceremony, the event stands as a powerful tribute to the lawyers whose counsel, advocacy, and foresight continue to propel Nigeria’s economy forward.
“The Nigerian Legal Awards celebrates the important contribution of lawyers to businesses — they are the unseen architects of growth, governance, and trust in our economy,” said Lere Fashola, Founder and Publisher of ESQ Legal Blitz and Convener of the Nigerian Legal Awards.
“This year’s edition reinforces our commitment to spotlighting the transformative role of legal excellence in shaping commerce, justice, and national progress.”
Honouring Excellence, Integrity, and Impact
Among this year’s distinguished and very special honourees are:
Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Lawyer and Former Minister of Works of Nigeria
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister for Aviation
Alhaji Hamed Raji, SAN, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award
Mr. Kayode Ajulo, Honourable Attorney General of Ondo State
Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, honoured as Legal Amazon of the Year, a recognition dedicated to exceptional female lawyers
Institutional awardees include:
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zenith Bank Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Rendeavour Nigeria & Alaro City, and Oando Plc, among others.
A Tradition of Credibility and Distinction
Since its inception, the Nigerian Legal Awards has established itself as a legacy event within the legal and business community, celebrating exceptional individuals and institutions that exemplify professional excellence, ethics, and innovation.
Over the years, the Awards have honoured legal icons such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, Hon. Justice Muhammed Uwais, CJN (Rtd), and Hon. Justice Alfa Belgore, CJN (Rtd).
Award Categories: Celebrating Excellence Across the Legal Spectrum
The ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards are structured around three distinct yet interconnected pillars — each designed to honour excellence at different stages and facets of legal practice in Nigeria and beyond. Together, these categories highlight the evolving contribution of lawyers to business, governance, and national development.
Competition is, of course, a healthy force — and the steady rise in the number of entries for the Nigerian Legal Awards has, without doubt, elevated the quality and creativity of shortlisted submissions, a trend many judges noted with admiration last year. This growing competitiveness means that entrants must now demonstrate truly exceptional work to stand out. Still, while some categories are hotly contested, strategic entrants may find that the less-crowded categories offer a clearer stage to showcase leadership strength and innovation.
“All over the world, there are similar respectable ceremonies that grant prizes, but this offers another flavour as it is specifically for Nigerian lawyers,” said Lere Fashola, Founder and Publisher of ESQ Legal. “Because most Nigerian firms are playing at home — in front of their public, their audience, their clients, their colleagues, their neighbours, and their bosses — the acknowledgement is even greater. As we stick very closely to the new trends in the market, we are able to see before anyone else and spot the new ‘kids on the block,’ see how the ‘old guys’ are doing in their traditional areas or new areas they are developing, and observe what innovations the new players are bringing to the game, as well as the influence of international players in the market.
1. The Law Firm Practice Area Categories
This flagship segment celebrates law firms and practice groups that have demonstrated exceptional skill, innovation, and commercial impact over the past 18 months. The category is deal-driven, assessing how legal solutions have directly influenced the success of clients’ businesses.
“We are thrilled to recognise the outstanding achievements of these exceptional law firms and their teams of associates,” said the Organising Committee. “The Nigerian Legal Awards is a testament to their dedication, innovation, and excellence in the legal field — and the resultant effect on the growth of commerce in Nigeria.”
The Awards maintain an unwavering commitment to fairness and merit. Submissions are independently evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges who focus on measurable achievements, deal outcomes, and tangible client impact. This merit-driven process ensures that recognition is grounded in excellence, professionalism, and verifiable results rather than influence or patronage. By spotlighting outstanding practice groups, the Awards foster healthy competition, elevate professional standards, and inspire the next generation of legal innovators.
2. The Nigerian Rising Stars: 40 Under 40 Category
The Nigerian Rising Stars Award recognises 40 exceptional lawyers of Nigerian descent under the age of 40 who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and remarkable promise early in their careers. These are young professionals whose reputation, influence, and intellectual brilliance embody the finest ideals of the legal profession. Nominees are drawn from both local and international organisations — including law firms, corporations, NGOs, and regulatory agencies.
Over the years, this platform has produced a generation of legal leaders who have risen to become Managing Partners of top-tier firms, General Counsel of major multinationals, and CEOs of leading enterprises across sectors.
3. The Editors’ Merit Awards
This prestigious category honours distinguished individuals who represent the highest ideals of the legal profession — integrity, excellence, and enduring impact. The Editors’ Merit Awards celebrate legacies that transcend legal mastery to include transformative contributions to governance, policy, and national development.
The category underscores the broader significance of law in shaping economic growth and social progress. With Nigeria’s economy projected to expand steadily in 2025, the legal profession continues to play a central role in driving commerce, protecting investments, and enabling innovation across critical sectors such as oil and gas, telecommunications, finance, and real estate. By honouring these exemplary figures, the Awards reaffirm the enduring role of lawyers as architects of stability, growth, and justice.
Award Plaques: Symbols of Legacy and Distinction
For the Practice-Based Award Categories
Each honouree in the Law Firm Practice Area Categories receives a bespoke, handcrafted crystal trophy, created as a homage to the enduring excellence of Nigeria’s legal profession.
The design of the trophy is inspired by the official logo of the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards — a stylized figure of a woman dressed in traditional African attire, symbolizing justice and integrity. Her curvy silhouette reflects the grace and strength of the African woman, while her hair, styled in the traditional Yoruba Shuku form, represents cultural pride and continuity.
In a striking parallel to Themis, the Greek Goddess of Justice, the woman is blindfolded, embodying impartiality and objectivity in the pursuit of justice. She holds a sword in her right hand — symbolizing the decisive enforcement of the law — and a scale in her left, representing fairness and balance. The sword’s fall is never arbitrary; it is guided by the equilibrium of the scales, echoing the legal doctrines of preponderance of evidence and proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Opting for a female figure carries profound meaning — it celebrates gentleness, wisdom, and noble character, yet through the blindfold, these virtues are rendered neutral, reinforcing the principle that justice must be both fair and business-conscious.
Etched beside the image are the words “ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards” — with EsQ rendered in red (a symbol of passion and purpose) and NIGERIAN LEGAL AWARDS in elegant black uppercase, reflecting authority and prestige. This exquisite design captures the essence of African identity, judicial integrity, and professional excellence — hallmarks of every recipient’s contribution to law and commerce.
For the Editors’ Merit Award Category
Recipients of the Editors’ Merit Award are presented with a custom-designed crystal trophy that embodies both the intellectual depth and visionary leadership of its honourees.
Depicted upon the trophy is a silhouetted sage with flowing silver hair, symbolizing accumulated wisdom, experience, and lifelong service to justice. The figure stands before a computer screen, portraying the harmonious blend of tradition and technological innovation — the defining hallmark of contemporary legal mastery.
Each award title is meticulously etched into the crystal base, ensuring a timeless, personalized commemoration of the recipient’s exceptional contribution to law, justice, and national development.
This handcrafted masterpiece reflects the spirit of the Nigerian Legal Awards — a celebration not only of professional excellence but of the wisdom, humanity, and vision that continue to shape the future of Nigeria’s legal and business landscape.
About the Nigerian Legal Awards
Now in its 12th edition, the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards stands as the definitive platform spotlighting excellence within Nigeria’s legal landscape and economy.
It celebrates the pivotal role of lawyers in fostering business growth, good governance, and societal transformation — recognising attributes such as innovation, dedication, and professionalism that elevate the Nigerian legal profession on the global stage.
Through a meticulous selection process overseen by a distinguished panel of local and international judges, the Awards continue to embody the highest standards of legal excellence on the African continent.
The Panel of Judges: Upholding Global Standards of Legal Excellence
The judging process is rigorous and transparent — led by an independent Panel of Judges comprising heads of African law practice groups from leading global law firms, senior academics, and business leaders. This ensures that the Awards continue to reflect the highest standards of merit and integrity in Africa’s legal sector.
The 2025 Panel of Judges embodies a rich blend of international expertise and local insight, reflecting the truly global scope of the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards. This year’s panel is chaired by Kamal Shah, Partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP, and includes distinguished professionals renowned for their integrity, depth of experience, and contributions to the legal and business community. Serving on the panel are Noella Lubano, Partner at Oraro & Company (Kenya); Foluke Akinmoladun, Partner, Trizon Law Chambers (Nigeria); Babatunde Akinyanju, Consultant Solicitor, Setfords (United Kingdom); Ola Belgore, CEO, Utica Capital; Nick Ashcroft, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard (United Kingdom); Chidi Momah, Principal Consultant, OCM Associates Limited and Immediate Genera Counsel and Company Secretary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Funmi Iyayi, Partner, Templars; and Matthew Wood, Partner, Ashurst LLP (United Kingdom).
Together, this diverse and highly accomplished panel ensures that the Awards maintain a rigorous, transparent, and merit-driven selection process — one that reflects both global best practices and the dynamic realities of the Nigerian legal environment.
Event Details
Date: 9th November, 2025
Venue: Landmark Event Centre, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos
Dress Code: Black Tie
Host: ESQ Trainings Limited/Legal Blitz Limited in collaboration with leading partners across the legal and business community
SPONSORS
The award is supportd by global and corporate partners including Stephenson Harwood, Addleshaw Goddard, Latham & Watkins, Tettracore Group, Aradel, rendeavoir-Alaro City, Zenith Bank Plc, FrieslandCampina, Danone and Cadbury Nigeria, Kiakia Finance UK, Parsons UK, THE LEGAL ESG COLLECTIVE etc
Media Contact
Press & Communications Office
ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards 2025
Email: esqnigerianlegalawards@gmail.com
Website: www.nigerianlegalawards.com
Tel: +234 8132676084
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