NBA swears in 33rd president

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

The 33rd President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has been sworn in.

She took the oath of office and allegiance as the president of the association at the NBA 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday. She is the second female to attain that feat.

She succeeded Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the 32th president at the expiration of his two-year tenure.

In her augural speech, the new president said she received the position with due humility, pledging to serve with diligence, thanking his predecessor for laying a solid foundation for her success.

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya said that she would be president to the association and not to those that supported her during the election

She urged that the position of president should not be determined by gender, expressing optimism that it would not take such a longer time for another female president to emerge.

She promised her administration would build a Bar every lawyer would appreciate, adding that the leadership will pursue fair remuneration implementation for lawyers.

The new president further assured that members would have the privilege for training, especially exposing them to the trending Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem.

She called for constructive criticisms for the sustained growth of the association, imploring all members to condemn the unwholesome practices on electoral processes.

In his valedictory speech, the immediate past President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, charged his successor to be determined and not allow challenges of the office to detail her.