Lagos, Nigeria: The Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR) has marked a significant milestone, celebrating 40 years of dedicated service to the legal profession.
Founded on October 1, 1985, by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, the NWLR is Africa’s longest consecutively published law report, maintaining weekly editions for over four decades.
At a press conference on Thursday in Lagos, Planning Committee Chairman, Mr Rotimi Obende, said the celebrations honour both consistency and Fawehinmi’s vision of equal access to justice.
“This celebration is not just about four decades of continuity; it reflects the spirit of innovation and equality that inspired the creation of the NWLR,” Obende stated.
Legal historians recalled that before Fawehinmi’s intervention, law reporting was erratic, with initiatives collapsing, leaving access to Supreme Court judgments restricted to a powerful few.
Fawehinmi petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association and the Chief Justice, prompting a 1984 declaration that Supreme Court judgments were public property. This paved the way for NWLR’s launch in 1985.
NWLR Editor, Mr Oluwole Kehinde, said the report has sustained 40 uninterrupted years, expanding in 2019 with an online platform to reach broader audiences.
Acting Managing Director Mr Gbenga Ogunleye noted that the NWLR is now a vital reference, not only in Nigeria but also across Commonwealth countries that practice common law.
Editorial Board Chairman Mr Ayo Olanrewaju stressed that the future of law reporting rests on technology, while preserving the NWLR’s trademark accuracy and reliability.
To mark the anniversary, a public lecture will be held on October 9 under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, will deliver the keynote address, joined by other distinguished speakers.
The theme, ‘Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in the Technological Era,’ reflects both heritage and the demands of the digital age.
