Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has made history by becoming the 33rd president-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association. She is only the second woman to lead the country's premier legal body since it was established 66 years ago.
Badejo-Okusanya's election comes 34 years after Priscilla Kuye became the first female president in 1991. In the NBA's electronic ballot, she secured 12,317 votes to defeat fellow Senior Advocates Lateef Omeyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.
She'll take the helm during the NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt this month, taking over from incumbent Afam Osigwe. Her rise to the top reflects decades of academic achievement, government service and active involvement in Bar activities.
Badejo-Okusanya earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Lagos before studying law there as well. After her call to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, she joined Olaniwun Ajayi LP, a leading commercial law practice.
In 2007, she moved into public sector work as Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to then-governor Babatunde Fashola. She worked under Olasupo Shasore, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, where she gained exposure to legal reforms and policy matters.
Badejo-Okusanya returned to private practice and, in 2017, co-founded Africa Law Practice NG & Company. She now serves as Co-Head of the firm's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice group.
On September 29, 2025, she was elevated to Senior Advocate rank, one of Nigeria's most prestigious legal honours. Her expertise extends beyond courtroom work into arbitration and legal management.
She sits on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration and belongs to numerous international bodies. These include the International Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, African Arbitration Association, International Council for Commercial Arbitration and FIDA.
Within the NBA itself, Badejo-Okusanya held positions as Assistant Secretary of the Lagos Branch and chair of the 2024 Annual General Conference Planning Committee. She also served on the National Executive Council.
In 2024, the NBA honoured her with its Presidential Medal of Service for her work with the association. Her election as president-elect caps more than 20 years of legal practice, institutional leadership and commitment to Nigeria's legal sector.
