I welcome the Justice Community to this Stakeholders’ Summit on the Administration of Justice specifically looking at catalysts for Justice Sector Reform in the State.

The essence of this Summit is to generate

…/ constructive and innovative

constructive and innovative ideas on the challenges in the justice sector which will serve as catalyst for further progressive reforms, and enhance the capacities of our justice infrastructure to meet the needs of the dynamic populace of our dear State.

Lagos State is Africa’s fastest growing market and our ultimate goal is to continue to grow our economy from its present 5^th position to the 3^rd largest economy in Africa. Experience has shown that societies with equal and unhindered access to justice have a better environment for economic

…/ growth and poverty alleviation

growth and poverty alleviation than those that do not.

As a government, we are well aware that to achieve our socio-economic goals of a safer, secured, peaceful and more prosperous Lagos State, we need a functioning justice sector, which guarantees not only the maintenance of law and order, the enforcement of human rights and freedom, but also provides an administration of justice ambience that protects investments and encourages economic development.

…/ The global strides

The global strides in commerce and information technology have transformed the world into a global village. Thus, one of our top priorities is to leave behind a legacy of a 21^st century justice sector driven by digital technology and powered by digital literate judicial officers and legal services providers. A justice system, where all justice institutions in Lagos State are fully automated.

We are already putting in place the infrastructure for the Lagos State DNA Laboratory for the processing of DNA evidence, which is a powerful criminal justice

…/ tool in “prosecuting the

tool in “prosecuting the guilty and exonerating the innocent”. This will also act as deterrence to criminals whose DNA data are in the DNA database, ultimately, playing a key role in the systematic reduction of crime in our State.

As part of the discussion at this summit, we want you to deliberate on how to make Lagos State legal and judicial system an effective tool for realization of foreign investment.

Lagos must be a jurisdiction where business disputes

…/ can be robustly resolved

can be robustly resolved in a pragmatic manner. Some of the major challenges faced by investors and entrepreneurs include the ease and cost of doing business and over regulation of business processes. The summit should proffer solutions to this.

We are mindful of the need to attract foreign investment, and public private investment, especially in the area of provision of infrastructure. No economy can develop without sustained infrastructural development. I firmly believe that discussions around all these issues are pertinent for this august gathering.

Finally, Learned Ladies and Gentlemen, as our world is becoming more sophisticated, so must be our justice sector. I congratulate you all for being part of the process of reforming our justice sector to meet contemporary demands.

I wish you a history making Summit.

Thank you.

Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko…Lo Je Wa Logun