The ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards is set to reaffirm its place as Nigeria’s most prestigious platform for celebrating excellence, innovation, and leadership within the legal profession.
More than a ceremony, the 2025 Awards have evolved into a national institution — a yearly reflection on the central role of lawyers in driving business, governance, and economic transformation.
“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.”
Celebrating Excellence, Integrity, and Influence
The 2025 Awards will recognise a distinguished line-up of honourees whose careers exemplify professional distinction and national service. Among them are Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), former Minister of Works; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation; Alhaji Hamed Raji, SAN, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; Kayode Ajulo, Attorney General of Ondo State; and Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, named Legal Amazon of the Year — an honour reserved for trailblazing female lawyers.
Institutional awardees include the 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.
Since its inception, the Nigerian Legal Awards has emerged as a touchstone for professional honour and integrity, paying tribute to individuals and institutions that exemplify the best of Nigerian legal and business excellence. Past recipients include 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).
The Categories: Recognising Excellence Across the Legal Spectrum
The ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards are organised around three central pillars, each designed to honour legal distinction at varying stages and spheres of practice. These categories collectively capture the evolving influence of Nigerian lawyers on commerce, policy, and national development.
The Awards have grown increasingly competitive in recent years — a trend driven by the surge in submissions and the ever-higher bar of excellence set by participants. Judges have noted this healthy rivalry as a sign of progress within the profession, forcing entrants to present exceptional, verifiable achievements to earn recognition.
“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. “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.”
Law Firm Practice Area Awards
This flagship category honours law firms and practice groups that have demonstrated exceptional legal skill, innovation, and tangible commercial impact over the past 18 months. The Awards are deal-driven, measuring how legal expertise has directly advanced 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.”
Entries are assessed by an independent panel of judges based on measurable outcomes, client impact, and demonstrable innovation. This ensures a merit-based process rooted in fairness, professionalism, and verifiable performance. By recognising firms that push boundaries, the Awards inspire higher standards and foster healthy competition across Nigeria’s legal industry.
The Nigerian Rising Stars: 40 Under 40
This category celebrates 40 outstanding lawyers of Nigerian descent under the age of 40 who have shown exceptional promise, leadership, and creativity early in their careers. These emerging leaders — drawn from law firms, corporations, NGOs, and public agencies both locally and internationally — represent the next generation of legal excellence.
Over the years, the 40 Under 40 initiative has produced legal minds who have gone on to become Managing Partners of top-tier firms, General Counsel of multinational corporations, and CEOs of major enterprises, continuing the tradition of excellence the Awards seek to promote.
The Editors’ Merit Awards
The Editors’ Merit Awards recognise individuals whose careers embody integrity, excellence, and transformational influence beyond the courtroom. This category celebrates figures whose work has shaped policy, governance, and economic growth.
With Nigeria’s economy expected to continue its expansion in 2025, the Awards highlight the indispensable role of lawyers in sustaining that growth — protecting investments, advancing reforms, and enabling innovation across vital sectors including oil and gas, telecommunications, finance, and real estate.
Symbols of Legacy: The Award Plaques
Each trophy presented at the Nigerian Legal Awards is a masterpiece designed to capture the soul of the profession and the values it upholds.
For the practice-based categories, recipients receive a handcrafted crystal trophy inspired by the ESQ Awards logo — a stylised African woman symbolising justice and integrity. Her blindfold evokes impartiality, her sword denotes enforcement of the law, and her scales signify fairness and balance. Her Shuku hairstyle represents cultural pride and continuity, while the red-and-black engraving of “ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards” conveys passion, purpose, and prestige.
For recipients of the Editors’ Merit Award, a custom crystal piece portrays a sage with flowing silver hair before a computer screen — a fusion of wisdom and technology symbolising the modern lawyer’s balance of tradition and innovation. Each trophy is engraved with the recipient’s name and title, serving as a timeless record of distinction and national contribution.
A Legacy of Credibility and Global Recognition
Now in its 12th edition, the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards remains the definitive platform for recognising the lawyers and institutions that shape Nigeria’s economic and judicial future. Its judging process is transparent and globally benchmarked, reflecting standards that rival international equivalents.
The 2025 Panel of Judges is chaired by Kamal Shah, Partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP, and includes Noella Lubano (Oraro & Company, Kenya); Foluke Akinmoladun (Trizon Law Chambers, Nigeria); Babatunde Akinyanju (Setfords, UK); Ola Belgore (Utica Capital); Nick Ashcroft (Addleshaw Goddard, UK); Chidi Momah (OCM Associates and former General Counsel, NNPC); Funmi Iyayi (Templars); and Matthew Wood (Ashurst LLP, UK).
Their blend of international perspective and local insight ensures that the Awards remain merit-driven, transparent, and reflective of global best practices.
The Grand Celebration
The 2025 ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards will hold on November 9, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event is hosted by ESQ Trainings Limited and Legal Blitz Limited, in collaboration with partners across the legal and business community.
Sponsors include global and corporate giants such as Stephenson Harwood, Addleshaw Goddard, Latham & Watkins, Tettracore Group, Aradel Holdings, Rendeavour–Alaro City, Zenith Bank Plc, FrieslandCampina, Danone, Cadbury Nigeria, Kiakia Finance UK, Parsons UK, and The Legal ESG Collective. The dress code for the evening is black tie.
As the Awards prepare to celebrate yet another class of trailblazers, they reaffirm a truth long recognised within the profession: behind every thriving enterprise and stable institution in Nigeria, there stands a lawyer — shaping the rules, ensuring fairness, and anchoring progress.
