MICHAEL AKINOLA
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 powerful congratulatory statement, Pinheiro praised the President-elect’s proven excellence, inclusiveness, and boldness.
However, he quickly paired his praise with a candid assessment of the steep challenges awaiting her, explicitly warning that the prestigious association is currently fractured.
“The Bar is currently polarised 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 emphasised that internal unity is more than just an organizational goal, it is a national necessity.
He argued that a fractured NBA cannot effectively fulfill its public duty, noting that a unified Bar is vital to protect the rule of law, advance the welfare of lawyers, and serve as a strong voice for justice and good governance across Nigeria.
Badejo-Okusanya’s election marks a major institutional milestone. While Dame Priscilla Kuye served as NBA president in 1991, she did so by stepping up from the vice presidency following a resignation.
Badejo-Okusanya’s victory is the first time the general electorate of the Bar has voted a woman into the top seat.
Pledging his full backing to the incoming administration, Pinheiro concluded by offering his complete support to help realize a bolder, more united, and more effective Nigerian Bar Association.
