Badejo-Okusanya elected NBA President
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has been elected as President of The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Badejo-Okusanya, the only female among the three presidential candidates, polled 12,317 votes to emerge the winner of the election, which was held through electronic voting for 24 hours. from 7:35 a.m. on Saturday to 7:34 a.m. on Sunday.
Her rivals, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, secured 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent) while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, another SAN, polled 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent) to take the third position.
In a statement issued after the announcement of the election results, Badejo-Okusanya described her victory as a collective achievement for lawyers who believed in her vision of “A BBOLD Bar That Works for Everyone.”
She thanked NBA members for their confidence, saying she was deeply humbled by the trust reposed in her.
“This victory belongs to all of us who believe in A BBOLD BAR THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. Thank you to every member who supported this vision, to my fellow contestants for enriching our democratic process, and to every colleague who participated in this election,” she said.
The president-elect also acknowledged the contributions of her campaign council, volunteers, coordinators, supporters, friends and colleagues, saying their dedication and sacrifices made her victory possible.
She equally expressed appreciation to her husband, family, mentors and others who supported her throughout the campaign with prayers and encouragement.
Badejo-Okusanya said the conclusion of the election marked the beginning of the task of serving the association, promising to work for the benefit of all members.
“The campaign is over. The work begins now. I pledge to serve every member of the Nigerian Bar Association with integrity, humility, courage, and accountability,” she said.
She added that her administration would focus on improving the welfare and professional development of lawyers across the country.
“Together, we will build an NBA where lawyers can earn better, live better, and practise better,” she said.
Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Lagos. Before studying law, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree in English from the same institution.
She began her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, where she built a distinguished practice in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Her outstanding contributions to the legal profession earned her elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the country’s highest legal distinction, on September 29, 2025.
In 2007, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to the then Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola. In that role, she worked within the office of the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore, contributing to key justice sector reform initiatives in the state.
A respected arbitration and commercial law practitioner, Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya belongs to several leading international and local professional bodies, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), the African Arbitration Association, ArbitralWomen, the International Bar Association (IBA), the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), where she is a Life Member. She also serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA).
Within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), she has held numerous leadership and committee positions. She served as Assistant Secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch, was a delegate to the 2006 NBA elections, and sat on several committees, including the NBA Lagos Branch Building Committee, the Future of the Legal Profession Committee, and the Conference Investigation Committee. She also served as Alternate Chair of the 2023 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee before chairing the committee for the 2024 conference.