ABUJA, Nigeria — Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has assumed office as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming only the second woman to lead the country’s foremost legal body and the first female candidate to secure the position through a competitive election.
Her election marks a significant milestone in the history of the association, which was established in 1933, and places her at the helm of an organisation representing thousands of legal practitioners across Nigeria.
Unlike many legal professionals who began their academic journey studying law, Badejo-Okusanya first earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Lagos before returning to the institution to obtain a Bachelor of Laws degree.
She was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, beginning a legal career that has spanned litigation, public service, arbitration and legal policy development.
Within the legal profession, she is widely known by the nickname “Mrs. B,” a reflection of her longstanding involvement in the Nigerian Bar and her reputation for mentoring younger lawyers while serving on several professional committees.
Badejo-Okusanya also comes from a family with a distinguished record in academia and public service.
Her father, the late Professor Olufolabi Olumide, was a renowned surgeon and the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, while her mother, Clara Folasade Olumide, made history as the first female Registrar of the University of Lagos.
She is also the sister of Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
Before establishing herself in private legal practice, Badejo-Okusanya served in the Lagos State Government, where she was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform under former Governor Babatunde Fashola.
She later served as the Governor’s General Counsel, providing legal advice on governance, public policy and justice sector reforms during a period of major infrastructure and regulatory development in the state.
In 2017, she co-founded Africa Law Practice NG & Company, where she currently serves as Co-Head of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice.
Although she has built an extensive career as a litigator, colleagues say her influence extends significantly into arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
She has served on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration and has contributed to efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s arbitration framework and commercial dispute resolution systems.
Her professional accomplishments were further recognised in September 2025 when she was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the highest professional distinction within Nigeria’s legal profession.
Less than a year after receiving the prestigious rank, she secured victory in the Nigerian Bar Association presidential election.
Beyond Nigeria, Badejo-Okusanya is affiliated with several international legal and arbitration organisations, including the London Court of International Arbitration, the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, the International Bar Association and ArbitralWomen.
Her memberships reflect her involvement in global legal practice and international dispute resolution.
Outside her legal career, Badejo-Okusanya is active in church service at the Methodist Church of Nigeria’s Emmanuel Chapel in Ikoyi, Lagos, where she serves as a church steward and sings in the choir.
During her campaign for the NBA presidency, she travelled across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, presenting a reform agenda built around the slogan, “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.”
Her campaign focused on improving the welfare of legal practitioners, strengthening judicial independence, expanding continuing legal education, accelerating the digital transformation of the Nigerian Bar Association and enhancing mentorship opportunities for young lawyers.
As she begins her tenure, members of the legal profession will be watching closely to see how those campaign promises translate into policies aimed at strengthening the legal profession and advancing the administration of justice across Nigeria.
