At the 65th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Monday, 25th August 2025, a powerful panel session on “Women in Leadership: Diversity and Inclusion in Perspective” took centre stage, led by Hon. Justice O. R. Haruna (DR-CILMMD, DR-FIGPCM, MIAD, AICMC, CGArb – Global Peace Icon).
Justice Haruna underscored that diversity and inclusion are not mere ideals but necessities for building stronger democracies, equitable justice systems, and sustainable economies. He stressed that women’s participation across politics, business, the legal profession, and the judiciary is not only a matter of fairness but a catalyst for Nigeria’s social and economic progress.
The session highlighted Nigeria’s obligations under both domestic and international frameworks, including the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the VAPP Act 2015, the Electoral Act 2022, and treaties such as CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, which mandate gender inclusion. Despite these laws, the representation of women in governance and decision-making remains critically low, with women occupying less than 10% of elective offices in Nigeria.
Examples of trailblazing women were celebrated, from political icons like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti to business leaders such as Folorunsho Alakija and Ibukun Awosika, as well as legal pioneers like Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, and Funke Adekoya, SAN.
In the judiciary, the milestones of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice, and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the current CJN, were recognised as evidence of women’s capability in leadership.
Speakers also drew attention to the barriers women continue to face, including entrenched patriarchal norms, limited access to finance, workplace discrimination, weak enforcement of gender quotas, and harassment. These challenges, they argued, persist despite the existence of strong legal frameworks.
Justice Haruna emphasized the need to move beyond rhetoric into actionable reforms, including the adoption of the Reserved Seats Bill, stronger implementation of existing policies, and grassroots empowerment through mentorship, access to legal aid, and targeted training. He called for closer collaboration between the NBA, the National Human Rights Commission, and other stakeholders to rebuild systems that guarantee equity and inclusion.
The session concluded with a call to action that reflected the theme of the 2025 NBA-AGC, “Stand Out, Stand Tall”. It was agreed that breaking the chains of exclusion requires the NBA to take the lead in legislative lobbying, mentorship, pro bono representation, and transformative law reform.
“Women will always stand out and stand tall when given the opportunity to lead,” Justice Haruna declared, urging the legal community to ensure that talent and hard work, not circumstances, determine access to opportunities in Nigeria.
#NBAAGC2025 #WomenInLeadership #StandOutStandTall #InclusionMatters #GenderEquity
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