First Lady congratulates NBA President-elect Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, says women can break barriers through collaboration and excellence.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged women to support one another in their pursuit of leadership positions, saying collaboration, dedication and excellence remain critical to breaking barriers across various sectors.
She made the call on Tuesday while receiving the President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), at her office in Abuja, where she congratulated the senior lawyer on her historic election.
According to a statement by the First Lady’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu described Badejo-Okusanya’s victory as an inspiration for women across the country and a testament to the growing impact of female leadership.
“You should set the bar and make room for other women coming behind you. This victory means a lot for women in general,” the First Lady said.
She noted that women are increasingly occupying strategic positions within Nigeria’s justice sector, citing the emergence of female leaders in key judicial offices and the NBA President-elect’s victory as further evidence of women’s achievements.
“I just shared with my last guest that in the judiciary now, women are holding sway. The Chief Judge is a woman, the President of the Court of Appeal is a woman, and now you are the President-elect of the NBA. Women are achieving a lot,” she added.
Senator Tinubu described the visit as memorable and offered prayers for a successful tenure for the incoming NBA president.
The First Lady also commended Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson, who stepped down from the NBA presidential race and mobilised support for Badejo-Okusanya, describing the gesture as a remarkable display of sportsmanship and solidarity among women.
Earlier, Badejo-Okusanya praised the humanitarian interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), particularly its programmes targeted at vulnerable Nigerians.
“Your work with the Renewed Hope Initiative, in addition to being the First Lady, looks like a full-time job. You have set an example for others to emulate. We thank you for all that you have been doing,” she said.
She also pledged the NBA’s readiness to partner with the Renewed Hope Initiative by providing pro bono legal services for vulnerable members of society where necessary.
Badejo-Okusanya explained that the visit was to share the joy of her election with the First Lady, describing her emergence as a significant milestone for women in the legal profession.
The senior advocate was elected on July 19, 2026, after polling 12,317 votes in the NBA’s 24-hour electronic election. She defeated two other candidates to become the association’s 33rd president.
Her victory makes her the first woman to be directly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association and only the second female to lead the body since its establishment in 1933, ending a 34-year wait for another woman to occupy the office.
Also elected was Afam Okeke as General Secretary with 8,478 votes. The newly elected national officers will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.