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By Lawrence Agbo
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya as its 33rd president, making history as the second woman to lead the country’s foremost body of legal practitioners.
Here are five key facts about the new NBA president.
1. She is the first woman to be directly elected by members as NBA president
59-year-old Badejo-Okusanya has become the second woman to become president of the NBA and the first female to be directly elected by members as NBA president. She follows 51-year-old Dame Priscilla Kuye, who assumed the presidency by constitutional succession when the sitting president resigned as the association’s first female president between 1991 and 1992, ending a 35-year wait for another woman to occupy the position.
2. She studied law in Nigeria and the United Kingdom
Badejo-Okusanya earned her LL.B. from the University of Lagos before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, where she was called to the Bar. She later obtained an LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary University of London, strengthening her expertise in commercial law and dispute resolution.
3. She has played key roles in arbitration
Badejo-Okusanya is a respected figure in Nigeria’s arbitration community. She previously served on the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigeria Branch and currently sits on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, contributing to the development of alternative dispute resolution in Nigeria.
4. She served in the Lagos State Government
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Between 2007 and 2015, she worked in the Lagos State Government, first as a Senior Aide on Justice Sector Reform and later as General Counsel in the Governor’s Office. During this period, she contributed to public-private partnerships, arbitration legislation, product liability and consumer protection initiatives.
5. She belongs to several international legal bodies
Badejo-Okusanya is an accredited CEDR Mediator and a member of several leading legal organisations, including the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Arbitral Women, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA), underscoring her active role in both Nigerian and international legal practice.
6. She has earned international recognition in the legal profession
Badejo-Okusanya is a member of several prestigious international legal bodies, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), African Arbitration Association, International Bar Association (IBA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), ArbitralWomen, FIDA, and the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA). These affiliations reflect her influence beyond Nigeria’s legal community.
7. She is deeply committed to her Christian faith
Away from the courtroom, Badejo-Okusanya is an active member of Methodist Church Nigeria’s Emmanuel Chapel, Ikoyi, where she serves as a Church Steward and sings in the church choir. She has often balanced her demanding legal career with active participation in church and community service.
8. She comes from a family of distinguished trailblazers
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya was born into a family known for excellence in academia and public service. Her late father, Professor Olufolabi Olumide, was a renowned surgeon and the first Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), while her mother, Clara Folasade Abiodun Olumide (née Solarin), made history as the first female Registrar of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Her upbringing in a family of accomplished professionals helped shape her commitment to leadership, public service and excellence.
