President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya on her election as president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu said her emergence demonstrates that Nigerian women can attain the highest positions through excellence and hard work.
He described Badejo-Okusanya’s election as a landmark for the legal profession and a victory for merit, excellence and gender inclusion.
Badejo-Okusanya made history on Saturday by becoming the first woman to be elected president of the NBA. She is the second female to lead the association after Priscilla Kuye, who served as president from 1991 to 1992.
Tinubu said Badejo-Okusanya’s distinguished career, marked by integrity, professionalism and commitment to justice, had earned her the confidence of lawyers across the country.
“I extend my hearty congratulations to the President-elect of the NBA for her victory. As the first elected female president of the Association of Lawyers in Nigeria, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya has made history,” the statement reads.
“She has once again shown that our women can attain any heights in pursuit of excellence in their careers and ambitions, both in the private sector and in public service.”
Tinubu expressed confidence that her leadership would strengthen the legal profession by upholding the rule of law and promoting reforms to improve access to justice.
He urged the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to work with stakeholders to advance judicial reforms, protect the sanctity of the constitution and sustain the legal profession’s role as a pillar of Nigeria’s democracy.
The president also advised her to foster unity within the association after the election.
“I urge you to reach out to the other contestants, unify the bar and make efforts to correct issues that arose during your election,” he said.
“I wish you a successful tenure and service to the legal profession and our country at large.”
Tinubu also assured the new NBA president of his administration’s commitment to working with the association to deepen democratic governance, promote justice, and build a more prosperous and united Nigeria.