Things to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female president

Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has made history by becoming the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), securing victory in the association's electronic election. She is only the second woman to lead the NBA in its over six-decade history and notably, the first woman to be directly elected by the association's members.

Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), defeated two other SANs in the election, garnering 12,317 votes, which represented 47.18 percent of the total votes cast. Her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, received 7,934 votes, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, secured 5,855 votes.

Her predecessor, Priscilla Kuye, led the NBA between 1991 and 1992, but she assumed the role through constitutional succession following the resignation of the then-president. Badejo-Okusanya's direct election marks a significant shift, signifying a broader acceptance and mandate from the NBA membership.

Born on January 15, 1967, Badejo-Okusanya comes from a family distinguished by academic and public service achievements. Her father was a renowned surgeon and the first Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, while her mother was the first female Registrar of the University of Lagos. She pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Lagos in 1987, before returning to study law and obtaining her LL.B. in 2000. She furthered her legal education with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary University of London.

With over two decades of legal experience, Badejo-Okusanya began her career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP. She has developed expertise in various fields, including litigation, arbitration, commercial law, and dispute resolution. In 2017, she co-founded Africa Law Practice NG & Company (ALP NG & Co.), where she currently co-heads the litigation and dispute resolution practice. She also served in the Lagos State Government for eight years between 2007 and 2015.

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She is the second woman to lead the NBA after Priscilla Kuye, who led the association between 1991 and 1992. Unlike Kuye, who assumed office through constitutional succession after the resignation of the then NBA president, Clement Akpamgbo, Badejo-Okusanya is the first woman to be elected directly by members of the association.