By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE — Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has been officially inaugurated as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday, August 28, 2026, during the closing session of the 66th NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt. Her predecessor, outgoing President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), administered the oath of office and formally presented her with the official handover notes.
Key Highlights of the Transition
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Historic Milestone: Badejo-Okusanya becomes the first woman ever to be elected NBA President through a ballot vote. She is the second woman to lead the 66-year-old association, following Dame Priscilla Kuye, who assumed the presidency in 1991 following the appointment of then-President Clement Akpamgbo as Attorney-General of the Federation.
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Election Victory: She emerged victorious after securing 12,317 votes (47.18% of ballots cast) in the national electronic election, defeating fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.
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Call for Unity: In her inaugural address, the new Bar leader extended an olive branch to her fellow contestants and pledged an inclusive administration, declaring: “I will be the President of one Bar.”
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Dignitaries Present: The event was attended by senior members of the Bench and Bar, as well as her family members—including her husband Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, her mother Clara Olumide (UNILAG’s first female Registrar), and her sister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
