In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s legal profession, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has been elected as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the first woman to be elected by members of the association to lead the country’s foremost body of legal practitioners. She secured 12,317 votes (47.18%) in the 2026 NBA presidential election, defeating two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN.
Her election marks a defining milestone in the history of the NBA, which was established in 1933. While Dame Priscilla Kuye previously served as the association’s first female president between 1991 and 1992, she assumed office through constitutional succession following the resignation of the then president. Badejo-Okusanya is the first woman to win the presidency through a direct election by NBA members.
A Distinguished Career in Law
Born on January 15, 1967, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya was raised in a family that valued education, leadership and public service. Her father, the late Professor Olufolabi Olumide, was a renowned surgeon and the first Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, while her mother, Clara Folasade Abiodun Olumide, made history as the first female Registrar of the University of Lagos.
Interestingly, her academic journey did not begin in law. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Lagos in 1987 before returning to study Law, obtaining her LL.B. in 2000. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 and later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial and Corporate Law at Queen Mary University of London.
With more than two decades of legal practice, Badejo-Okusanya has built a distinguished career spanning litigation, arbitration, commercial law, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, media and entertainment law, mediation and dispute resolution. She is a founding partner of Africa Law Practice NG & Company (ALP NG & Co.), where she co-heads the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice.
Championing Justice Beyond the Courtroom
Her legal expertise extends into public service. Between 2007 and 2015, she served in the Lagos State Government under former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola as Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform and later as General Counsel to the Governor.
During her tenure, she contributed to major justice sector reforms, arbitration legislation, consumer protection initiatives, public-private partnerships and the state’s home ownership mortgage scheme.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the legal profession, she was elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2025.
International Recognition
Badejo-Okusanya is widely respected in the field of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an accredited Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) mediator.
She also belongs to several leading international legal organisations, including the:
- International Bar Association (IBA)
- London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
- International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)
- African Arbitration Association
- Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA)
- International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
- African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
Her international experience positions her to strengthen the NBA’s engagement with the global legal community.
A Vision for a Stronger Nigerian Bar
Following the announcement of the election results, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members of the Nigerian Bar Association for their confidence and pledged to build “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.” She promised to prioritise lawyers’ welfare, improve professional opportunities, promote inclusiveness and strengthen the association’s role in protecting the rule of law.
Outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, also called on members to unite following an election that faced technical challenges, including a cyberattack, urging lawyers to focus on healing divisions within the association.
A Historic Moment for Women in Leadership
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya’s election is more than a personal achievement—it is a significant milestone for women in Nigeria’s legal profession. Her victory demonstrates the growing recognition of women’s leadership, competence and influence in shaping key institutions.
As she prepares to assume office during the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, she is expected to lead the association for a two-year term from 2026 to 2028, succeeding Afam Osigwe, SAN.
Her administration is expected to focus on lawyers’ welfare, institutional reforms, accountability and expanding access to justice, while inspiring a new generation of women to pursue leadership roles within the legal profession and beyond.
With her wealth of experience, commitment to justice and history-making election, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya begins a new chapter not only for the Nigerian Bar Association but also for women across Africa who continue to break barriers and redefine leadership.
