Who Is Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya? Meet the New NBA President

• Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has made history as the second woman to become President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Here’s everything you need to know about the senior lawyer, her career, and her journey to the NBA’s top office.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has emerged as the new President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), making history as only the second woman to lead the country’s foremost body of lawyers.

Badejo-Okusanya defeated two fellow Senior Advocates in the 2026 NBA presidential election, polling 12,317 votes (47.18%) to defeat Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), who secured 7,934 votes, and Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), who garnered 5,855 votes.

She will succeed Afam Osigwe (SAN) and officially assume office during the NBA Annual General Conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between August 21 and 28, 2026.

Who Is Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya?

Badejo-Okusanya was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after earning a law degree from the University of Lagos, where she had earlier obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in English.

She began her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP before rising through the ranks of the legal profession. In September 2025, she was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), one of the highest honours in Nigeria’s legal profession.

In 2007, she served as Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, working under the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore.

She is also a founding partner at Africa Law Practice NG & Company, where she co-heads the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice.

Professional Experience

Over the years, Badejo-Okusanya has held several leadership positions within the NBA, including:

• Assistant Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch
• Member, NBA National Executive Council
• Chair, 2024 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee
• Alternate Chair, 2023 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee
• Member of several NBA committees focused on legal reforms and the future of the profession

She was awarded the NBA Presidential Medal of Service in 2024 for her contributions to the association.

International Memberships

Badejo-Okusanya belongs to several international legal and arbitration bodies, including:

• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
• International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)
• International Bar Association (IBA)
• Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA)
• International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
• African Arbitration Association
• ArbitralWomen
• African Women Lawyers Association (Life Member)

She also serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA).

With her election, Badejo-Okusanya becomes only the second woman in the NBA’s 66-year history to occupy the office of President, following Priscilla Kuye, who served between 1991 and 1992.