On the Occasion of the African Bar Association (AfBA) Annual General Conference
Theme: “Foreign Aid and African Dependency: Re-Imagining Empowerment”
Monday, 20th October, 2025
Distinguished President of the African Bar Association, esteemed delegates, learned colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
It is with immense pride and a deep sense of professional solidarity that I extend my goodwill and felicitations to the leadership and members of the African Bar Association on the occasion of this year’s Annual General Conference.
This gathering is not only a testament to the unity and resilience of the African legal community but also a vital forum for introspection on the future of our continent within the global order.
The theme, “Foreign Aid and African Dependency: Re-Imagining Empowerment,” is both timely and compelling.
It challenges us as African lawyers, policymakers, and thought leaders to rethink the narratives that have shaped Africa’s socio-economic development for decades.
It calls on us to interrogate the structures of dependency that limit true progress and to advance sustainable systems rooted in home-grown capacity, innovation, and self-determination.
Foreign aid, while often well-intentioned, has too frequently become a double-edged sword, one that nurtures reliance rather than resilience.
The African Bar must, therefore, take the lead in advocating for legal frameworks and governance models that prioritize economic sovereignty, resource control, and institutional accountability.
Empowerment must begin with knowledge, policy consistency, and a justice system that fosters inclusion, equity, and integrity.
As an advocate deeply committed to the ideals of a strong, self-sustaining Africa, I salute the African Bar Association for keeping these conversations alive and for providing a platform where voices of reason, courage, and reform can converge for the greater good of our continent.
May this conference yield practical resolutions that inspire transformation across the legal, economic, and governance landscapes of Africa.
Let us continue to stand together, as one formidable Bar, driving the renaissance of an empowered and independent Africa.
Congratulations to the African Bar Association for yet another milestone in the pursuit of continental progress and professional excellence.
Long live the African Bar Association.
Long live the African legal community.
Long live Africa.
Signed:
Barth Okoye Aniche, Esq.
Immediate Past Publicity Secretary,
Eastern Bar Forum (EBF)
