Prominent legal luminary, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, has challenged the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, to make organizational unity her immediate priority as she takes the helm of Africa’s largest legal body.
Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya, affectionately called “Mrs. B” by colleagues, made history by becoming the first female president directly elected by the association’s membership.
In a congratulatory statement, Pinheiro praised the President-elect’s proven excellence, inclusiveness, and boldness.
However, he coupled his commendation with a candid assessment of the challenges ahead, warning that the prestigious association is currently divided.
“The Bar is currently polarized along several lines—generational, ideological, and sometimes personal,” Pinheiro stated. “Healing these divisions and building a truly cohesive, inclusive, and purpose-driven Bar must be at the heart of your agenda.”
Pinheiro emphasized that internal unity is more than an organizational goal; it is a national necessity. He argued that a divided NBA cannot effectively fulfill its public duty, noting that a united Bar is essential to protecting the rule of law, advancing the welfare of lawyers, and serving as a strong voice for justice and good governance across Nigeria.
Badejo-Okusanya’s election marks a significant institutional milestone. While Dame Priscilla Kuye served as NBA President in 1991, she assumed the position from the vice presidency following the resignation of the then president.
Badejo-Okusanya’s victory marks the first time the NBA’s general electorate has directly elected a woman to the association’s highest office.
Pledging his full support to the incoming administration, Pinheiro concluded by expressing his commitment to helping build a stronger, more united, and more effective Nigerian Bar Association.
