BADEJO-OKUSANYA TAKES CHARGE OF NBA, PROMISES INCLUSIVE AND STRONGER ASSOCIATION

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has officially assumed office as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association, pledging to build a stronger and more united legal profession.

Badejo-Okusanya was inaugurated on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where her predecessor, Afam Osigwe, SAN, formally handed over leadership of the association to her.

Her assumption of office marks a historic moment for the Nigerian legal profession, as she becomes the first woman to be elected president of the NBA. She succeeds Osigwe, who completed his tenure after leading the association for the past two years.

In her first message as president, Badejo-Okusanya reflected on her long journey within the legal profession and recalled attending her first NBA Annual General Conference 24 years ago as a newly called lawyer.

She said she was humbled by the opportunity to lead the association and expressed appreciation to past NBA leaders whose contributions had helped shape the organisation.

The new NBA president pledged to use her tenure to strengthen the association and ensure that lawyers across the country feel represented, protected and empowered.

She said her administration would work towards creating a more confident and effective Bar, with greater attention to the welfare and professional needs of its members.

Badejo-Okusanya also emphasised the importance of unity within the association, extending an olive branch to other contestants in the recently concluded NBA election and calling for their support and cooperation.

Her victory in the July 2026 election saw her secure 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast. She defeated fellow Senior Advocates Lateef Akangbe, who received 7,934 votes, and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, who polled 5,855 votes.

The election was preceded by controversy, including technical difficulties and a cyberattack on the association's electronic voting platform. However, the election appeals committee subsequently dismissed petitions seeking to overturn the outcome.

Badejo-Okusanya's administration is expected to address several issues confronting the legal profession, including lawyers' welfare, professional standards, access to justice and the unity of the Bar.

She also pledged to promote an inclusive association in which every member would have a sense of belonging, regardless of differences within the profession.

With her inauguration now completed, the new NBA president has signalled that her administration will begin work immediately, with the goal of leaving the association stronger than she found it.

Her two-year tenure, which runs from 2026 to 2028, is expected to be closely watched as she becomes the second woman to lead the NBA and the first woman elected directly to the presidency of the association.