Some of Delta State’s most influential voices in finance, law, business, and academia will lead critical conversations at the 2025 Convention and Annual Lecture of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF).
The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025, at David’s Event Centre in Asaba, with discussions centred on the theme: “Nigeria’s New Tax Law: Implications and Opportunities for Businesses and Society.”
Chief Edward Obiefuna Martyns (Nnanyelugo), FCA, MBA, MSc—Director of Local Government Accounts in the Office of the Accountant General of Delta State, will serve as Chairman.
A distinguished Chartered Accountant, Rotarian, philanthropist, and public finance expert, Chief Martyns brings decades of private- and public-sector experience to the role.
A diverse panel of discussants drawn from the public sector, academia, business community, and legal profession will enrich the conversation. Among them are:
Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Fellow of both ICAN and CITN;
Mr. Victor Fegor Origho, taxation and corporate governance consultant and Accounting lecturer at Dennis Osadebay University;
Mr. Martins Oyem Aghaobodo, Esq., veteran lawyer, retired administrator, and Head of Chambers at Oyem M. Aghaobodo & Associates.
Also on the panel is Barr. Ikpesu Gideon Jade, Vice-Chairman of the NBA Effurun Branch, whose background in legal and economic policy is expected to illuminate the regulatory dimensions of Nigeria’s evolving tax landscape. Engr. Tony Okoh, President of DACCIMA, will offer private-sector perspectives on competitiveness, growth, and the practical implications of the new tax framework.
The keynote address will be delivered by Associate Prof. Ochuko Benedict Emudainohwo, PhD, FCA, a respected scholar of public finance and taxation at Dennis Osadebay University. He is expected to guide participants through a detailed analysis of the tax legislation set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
This year’s lecture is particularly timely, coming as Nigeria prepares to implement what many describe as one of its most significant tax reforms since independence.
From the Petroleum Profits Tax Act of 1959 to the Companies Income Tax Act of 1961 and the introduction of VAT in 1993, the nation has continuously sought to modernise its fiscal framework.
The new tax law aims to streamline compliance, plug revenue leakages, and promote transparency, issues the DOPF platform will explore in depth, especially regarding their impact on governance, business operations, accountability, and national development.
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, is expected as Special Guest of Honour. The event will also attract senior government officials, industry leaders, civil society organisations, and media professionals.
Now in its sixth edition, the DOPF Convention and Annual Lecture has become one of Delta State’s most respected platforms for civic engagement and policy dialogue. This year’s gathering is poised to enhance public comprehension of Nigeria’s new tax law while uniting key stakeholders committed to economic reform, good governance, and sustainable development.
