Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has made history after being elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the first woman to be elected into the role and the 33rd President of the association.
Badejo-Okusanya secured victory in the NBA’s 2026 national election after polling 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total ballots cast, defeating fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria Lateef Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.
Her election marks a defining moment for one of Nigeria’s most influential professional bodies. While the NBA has previously had a female president through succession, Badejo-Okusanya becomes the first woman to earn the office through a direct electoral mandate, underscoring a significant milestone for representation and leadership within the legal profession.
Widely respected for her distinguished legal career, Badejo-Okusanya is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose work spans commercial dispute resolution, arbitration and corporate legal practice. Throughout her campaign, she positioned competence, institutional reform and service delivery at the centre of her vision for the association, calling for a stronger and more inclusive Nigerian Bar.
Her election has drawn congratulations from across Nigeria’s legal and public sectors, with many describing the outcome as a landmark achievement for the profession and a significant step forward for women in leadership.
As she prepares to assume office, expectations are high that her administration will build on the NBA’s legacy while championing reforms that strengthen the legal profession, uphold the rule of law and advance the interests of lawyers across the country.