Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on women to support one another in their pursuit of leadership, saying solidarity and collaboration remain key to breaking barriers and achieving greater success.
She made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving the president-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), at her office in Abuja, where she congratulated the senior lawyer on her landmark election.
According to a statement by the First Lady’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu described Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence as a significant milestone that would inspire more women to aspire to leadership positions.
She urged the NBA president-elect to use her tenure to create opportunities for other women, stressing that leadership should open doors for future generations.
“You should set the bar and make room for other women coming behind you. This victory means a lot for women in general,” the First Lady said.
Senator Tinubu observed that women are increasingly making remarkable strides in Nigeria’s justice sector, noting that the presence of women in key judicial positions reflects the growing recognition of their competence and leadership abilities.
“I just shared with my last guest that in the judiciary now, women are holding sway. The Chief Judge is a woman, the President of the Court of Appeal is a woman, and now you are the President-elect of the NBA. Women are achieving a lot,” she stated.
The First Lady described the visit as memorable and offered prayers for a successful and impactful tenure for the incoming NBA president.
“This is a visit that would be remembered by my office for a long time to come. I can only pray for you and wish you a successful tenure,” she added.
Senator Tinubu also commended Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson for withdrawing from the NBA presidential race and rallying support for Badejo-Okusanya, describing the move as an uncommon demonstration of sportsmanship and unity among women.
Earlier, Badejo-Okusanya applauded the humanitarian efforts of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), saying the programme had continued to improve the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
“Your work with the Renewed Hope Initiative, in addition to being the First Lady, looks like a full-time job. You have set an example for others to emulate. We thank you for all that you have been doing,” she said.
She also pledged the Nigerian Bar Association’s willingness to collaborate with the First Lady and the Renewed Hope Initiative by providing pro bono legal services for vulnerable Nigerians whenever required.
Badejo-Okusanya explained that her visit was to celebrate her historic election with the First Lady, describing her victory as a defining moment for women in the legal profession.
The senior lawyer was elected on July 19, 2026, after securing 12,317 votes in the NBA’s 24-hour electronic election, defeating two other candidates to become the association’s 33rd president.
Her election makes her the first woman to be directly elected president of the NBA and only the second woman to lead the association since its establishment in 1933, ending a 34-year gap since the last female occupant of the office.
Also elected during the exercise was Afam Okeke, who emerged as General Secretary with 8,478 votes.
The newly elected national officers will serve a two-year term spanning 2026 to 2028.
