At the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, electrified the gathering with a message that resonated deeply with lawyers across the country: the Bar must return to caring for its members in practical, tangible ways.
In a bold vision that has sparked fresh conversations among lawyers, Akangbe proposed three core entitlements for every member of the NBA: free stamps, free access to legal technology tools such as LawPavilion, and free training.
“Welfare is not a privilege, it is a right,” he declared, earning nods of approval from lawyers both young and senior.
Akangbe reminded members that NBA stamps, once given freely, should be restored as part of their practising entitlement. He argued that access to premium legal research tools like LawPavilion must no longer be a burden on young practitioners struggling to build their careers. Free trainings, he insisted, are essential to keep lawyers updated on evolving practice areas, procedures, and technology.
Why This Matters
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Young lawyers will no longer be left behind because of cost barriers.
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Legal tech tools will empower practitioners nationwide to deliver stronger, faster, and more competitive services.
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Continuous free trainings will uplift the standard of practice across every branch of the NBA.
Akangbe’s vision is simple yet transformative: an NBA that delivers real value to its members beyond ceremonies and conferences. For many delegates at the conference, it was a refreshing call, a reminder that the Bar must be as much about its people as it is about its prestige.
The message has since continued to spark excitement among lawyers on and off social media, with many describing it as a “wake-up call” to the Association.
For now, what is clear is that Akangbe’s words have re-ignited an old but urgent debate: should the NBA go back to putting its members first?
Read More:
Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe SAN: A Journey of Grit, Growth, and Global Impact
Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, to Speak on “A Peep into the Future” at NBA-AGC 2025
