Renowned human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana will be the keynote speaker at the eighth edition of the annual Penpushing Media lecture, scheduled to hold on 23 July 2026 at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The Chairperson of the anniversary lecture, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi told the media that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) confirmed his physically presence at the event.
According to Akiyode-Afolabi, Falana would deliver a presentation on the event theme, “Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability”, while four intellectuals would be in the panel of discussants.
Akiyode-Afolabi said that Falana commended the editorial board and planning committee of Penpushing Media, owners of online newspaper and television outfits, for their foresight and relevance in the media industry
The keynote speaker’s legal career began in the late 1970s, and rapidly established himself as a leading expert in labour and workers’ rights, while his practice encompasses a diverse range of legal matters, encompassing both civil and criminal cases.
Falana’s exceptional contributions to the legal profession culminated in his elevation to the esteemed rank of SAN, and he also stands at the vanguard of the struggle for the defence and promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Africa.
Beyond his extensive experience in Nigerian courts, he has represented victims of human rights abuses before various international tribunals including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul, The Gambia), the Community Court of Justice (Abuja, Nigeria), the Special Court for Sierra Leone (Freetown, Sierra Leone), and the African Court on Human and Peoples’
He is a prolific writer and commentator, who has authored numerous articles and publications addressing legal, political, and human rights issues in Nigeria, and his insightful writings not only educate the public but also serve to critique and challenge the status quo, contributing significantly to the discourse on governance and accountability in Nigeria.
Falana has made significant contributions to the advancement of human rights and the expansion of democratic space in Africa and has spearheaded successful campaigns for the enactment of welfare laws that benefit the majority of underprivileged citizens.
His dedication to human rights activism demonstrably led to his arrest and detention by former military dictators between 1984 and 1998; despite facing charges of unlawful assembly, incitement, sedition, and treasonable felony, he was never convicted of any offense.
The keynote speaker’s pursuit of social justice extends beyond political and civil rights and has been instrumental in securing the recognition and protection of socio-economic rights for the Nigerian people through both local and international tribunals.
When successive military regimes suspended human rights provisions in the Nigerian Constitution, Falana successfully persuaded Nigerian courts to uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed to Nigerians by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
