Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Elected First Female NBA President, Pledges Inclusive Leadership

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the first woman to lead the association in its history.

In her first statement as President-Elect, Badejo-Okusanya expressed gratitude to members of the Bar for the confidence reposed in her, describing her election as both a great honour and a solemn responsibility.

“I am deeply humbled by your trust,” she said, noting that the victory belonged to all members who believed in her campaign vision of “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.”

She thanked members who voted for her, fellow contestants for strengthening the democratic process, and the BBOLD Campaign Council, volunteers, coordinators, supporters, friends and colleagues whose commitment, sacrifice and dedication made the campaign successful.

The President-Elect also acknowledged the support of her husband, family, mentors and well-wishers, saying their prayers and encouragement sustained her throughout the campaign.

Declaring that “the campaign is over; the work begins now,” Badejo-Okusanya pledged to lead the association with integrity, humility, courage and accountability.

She promised to work towards an NBA where lawyers can “earn better, live better and practise better,” while assuring members that her administration would serve every lawyer irrespective of their support during the election.

Congratulatory messages have continued to pour in following her victory.

Among those who congratulated her was Professor of Law and Vice-Chancellor of the Protestant University of Rwanda, Olu Ojedokun, who described her campaign as a model of issue-based politics.

According to Ojedokun, Badejo-Okusanya ran a “textbook operation” by focusing on her vision rather than attacking opponents, adding that her victory demonstrates that candidates can succeed through positive engagement instead of personal attacks.

He, however, noted that the incoming NBA President faces the important task of addressing perceived shortcomings in the association’s electoral process.