As more Nigerians focus on wealth creation through businesses, real estate investments, and other income-generating assets, experts are emphasizing that building wealth is only one part of the equation. Equally important is creating structures that ensure those assets remain protected, properly managed, and seamlessly transferred to succeeding generations in accordance with the asset owner’s wishes. Importantly, Estate Planning is not solely for the wealthy, it is a prudent step for anyone with assets, dependants, or a business to protect, regardless of age, profession, or net worth.

Speaking on the importance of Estate Planning, Ereifemi Akeredolu, managing director/CEO, First Trustees Limited, noted that Estate Planning should be considered a core pillar of every long-term financial strategy.

“Many people focus on creating wealth but give litle thought to preserving it. Estate Planning is a wealth protection strategy that helps individuals safeguard their assets, secure their family’s future, and ensure that the value they build today continues to benefit future generations.”

Using tools such as Trusts, Wills, and advanced succession plans, individuals can build structures that support wealth preservation, business continuity, asset protection, and intergenerational wealth transfer.

For entrepreneurs and business owners, Estate Planning serves as a powerful tool for ensuring business sustainability, helping organizations remain stable and operational regardless of unforeseen circumstances.

First Trustees continues to emphasize and educate on the importance of Estate Planning as a comprehensive strategy for proactive planning. It remains one of the most important financial decisions an individual can make: it provides clarity, minimizes uncertainty, and protects assets from unnecessary erosion and disputes. It also creates financial security for loved ones, supports business succession and continuity, and facilitates long-term investment and legacy planning.

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To fix this, First Trustees Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings, partnered with The Metropolitan Law Firm and Al-Ameen Trustees to host the 8th Annual Islamic Estate Planning Clinic in Abuja.

The goal? Moving Nigerian families from informal verbal promises to structured, Sharia-compliant frameworks that leverage 21st-century technology.

The Problem: The Risk of Informality

The forum, themed “From Informality to Legacy: Structuring Islamic Wealth Transfer,” highlighted a systemic vulnerability in how many Muslim families manage assets.

In the absence of formal documentation, even the most successful business empires can crumble into family discord upon the death of a patriarch or matriarch.

Rotimi Obende, representing the managing director of First Trustees Limited, described estate planning as a “sacred duty” and an act of stewardship.

“Informal arrangements expose families to avoidable risks. Structured, Sharia-compliant plans provide clarity, transparency, and true generational protection,” Obende noted, emphasizing that regulated trustees are the essential “middleware” ensuring accountability in the execution of wills.

The Tech Angle: Blockchain for Wills

In a move that aligns traditional religious principles with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, keynote speaker Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the former minister of Communications and Digital Economy, urged a digital-first approach to inheritance.

Pantami warned against the verbal promise culture, which he noted frequently leads to asset loss. His solution? Integration of blockchain technology.

By using blockchain to store wills and estate documents, families can ensure that intentions are immutable, secure, and easily accessible, bridging the gap between ancient Shari’ah principles and cutting-edge innovation.

The “One-Third” Rule and Diverse Assets

Ummahani Amin, managing partner at The Metropolitan Law Firm, pointed out a common misconception about Islamic inheritance.

While Sharia provides a fixed structure, it also offers flexibility: individuals can allocate up to one-third of their estate to specific causes or individuals through properly documented wills (Wasiyyah) and trusts.

As assets become more complex, ranging from digital holdings and crypto-assets to cross-border investments, the consensus at the clinic was clear: the informal handshake deal is no longer a viable security protocol.

The Bottom Line

For First Trustees and its partners, the 2026 outlook for estate planning is about legal certainty and tax efficiency.

By formalizing Islamic inheritance, Nigerian families aren’t just following religious tenets; they are securing the dry powder of the economy, capital, and ensuring it stays productive across generations rather than being tied up in litigation.

Techeconomy Analysis: This push by First Trustees signifies an expanding niche in the Nigerian wealth management market.

As the $1 trillion economy grows, Legacy Tech, the intersection of legal frameworks and digital storage for estate planning, is set to become a critical service for Nigeria’s high-net-worth individuals and the burgeoning middle class.

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Thishighlyanticipatedforumisdesignedtoeducateandempowerparticipantsonstructuring Islamic wealth transfer in today’s evolving world.

The Clinic will provide practical guidance on how to secure and preserve legacies in accordance with Islamic principles, ensuring that wealth is managed and passed on responsibly across generations.

The event is being hosted in partnership with The Metropolitan Law Firm and will feature an esteemed lineup of speakers, including: Professor Isah Ali Pantami, Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Professor Adam Abubakar, ESQ, Professor of Islamic Banking and Finance, Yobe State University; Professor Dauda Abubakar, Founder and Director, Dawood Research Institute; HE Aisha Babangida, Chairperson, Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman; Ummahani Ahmad Amin, Managing Partner, Metropolitan Law Firm; Barrister Mohammed Yunusa, Partner at The Metropolitan Law Firm; Ismail Rufai, Managing Director/CEO, One17 Financial Services Limited; Mutiat Olatunji, Al-ameen Trustees Limited; and Rotimi Obende, Head, Private Trust, First Trustees Limited.

Together, these thought leaders will share insights on the importance of Estate Planning within Islamic law, highlighting strategies for safeguarding family wealth and ensuring continuity.

First Trustees remains committed to providing innovative trust solutions that help clients preserve their legacies while staying true to their values.

For further information or clarification about the Islamic Estate Planning Clinic, visit here.

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