The newly inaugurated President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has formally assumed office as the 33rd president of the association.
Badejo-Okusanya began her tenure with a tour of the NBA’s national secretariat and an interactive meeting with members of staff.
In a statement on Tuesday, the new NBA president reflected on her first day in office and the transition from her predecessor, Afam Osigwe, SAN, who served as the association’s 32nd president.
She said she commenced the day with a handover tour of NBA House alongside Osigwe, who took her through the National Secretariat and introduced her to members of staff.
“Together with my predecessor, Afam Osigwe, SAN, the 32nd President of the NBA, I toured NBA House, where he took me through the National Secretariat and introduced me to members of staff.
“Then came the farewell and the quiet realisation that the baton had truly changed hands,” she said.
After returning to her office, Badejo-Okusanya said she and her team began the administration with prayers before commencing official duties.
“I returned to the office, and we began with prayer. Then, we got to work,” she said.
She subsequently held an interactive session with members of staff at the National Secretariat as her administration began the process of implementing its vision for the association.
Reflecting on the transition, Badejo-Okusanya said assuming office reinforced her belief that true leadership was measured by actions taken after responsibility had been entrusted to an individual.
“My first day in office reminded me of something I have always believed:
“Leadership is not the moment you receive the baton. It is what you do with it after you receive it.”
Badejo-Okusanya emerged victorious in the 2026 NBA national officers’ election, defeating Lateef Akangbe, SAN, and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN.
She secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast. Akangbe polled 7,934 votes, while Akinboro received 5,855 votes.
The election was conducted electronically but was disrupted by technical difficulties and a cyberattack.
The challenges forced the electoral committee to rebuild its information and communications technology system before the voting process was eventually concluded.
With her assumption of office, Badejo-Okusanya has begun her tenure with a focus on engaging staff and putting her administration’s plans for the NBA into action.
