Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has etched her name in history after emerging as the 33rd elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the first woman to attain the association’s highest office through a democratic election.
Her victory in the 2026 NBA national election is more than a personal achievement. It is the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, excellence and dedicated service to the legal profession, inspiring a new generation of young lawyers, particularly women, to dream beyond limitations.
Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 valid votes cast, defeating fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, who polled 7,934 votes, and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, who garnered 5,855 votes.
She will succeed Afam Osigwe (SAN) and will be formally sworn in during the NBA Annual General Conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28, 2026.
Although she comes from a family that valued education and public service, Badejo-Okusanya’s rise to the pinnacle of Nigeria’s legal profession was built on years of personal dedication, discipline and professional excellence rather than privilege.
Her academic journey began at the University of Lagos, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English before pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at the same institution. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School.
Determined to broaden her legal knowledge, she proceeded to Queen Mary University of London, where she obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial and Corporate Law.
She started her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial law firms, where she honed her advocacy and litigation skills before co-founding Africa Law Practice NG & Company. Over the years, she built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading dispute resolution experts, handling complex commercial litigation, arbitration and corporate advisory matters.
Her outstanding contributions to the legal profession earned her elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2025, one of the highest honours for legal practitioners in the country.
Beyond private legal practice, Badejo-Okusanya also contributed to public service. She served as Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform during the administration of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and later worked as General Counsel in the Governor’s Office, where she played key roles in justice reforms, arbitration legislation and public-private partnership initiatives.
Within the Nigerian Bar Association, she steadily climbed the leadership ladder through years of active participation. She served as Assistant Secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch, chaired the 2024 Annual General Conference Planning Committee, became a member of the NBA National Executive Council and was honoured with the NBA Presidential Medal of Service in recognition of her commitment to the association.
Her influence extends beyond Nigeria through memberships of several international legal bodies, including the International Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch, African Arbitration Association and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
Outside the courtroom, Badejo-Okusanya is deeply committed to her Christian faith and community service. She serves as a Church Steward and choir member at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Emmanuel Chapel, Ikoyi.
Her election as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association marks a watershed moment in the association’s history. While Dame Priscilla Kuye became the first female NBA president in 1991 following the appointment of her predecessor as Attorney General of the Federation, Badejo-Okusanya is the first woman to earn the office through the votes of members.
Her journey from a determined young law graduate to one of Nigeria’s most respected legal practitioners and now President-elect of the NBA stands as a testament to perseverance, competence and unwavering commitment to excellence.
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