National Welfare Secretary aspirant of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam, has reaffirmed her commitment to building an inclusive Bar where lawyers with disabilities are not only accommodated but empowered to thrive.
Speaking on her welfare agenda, Ofoegbunam said the strength of the legal profession lies in its ability to embrace every member, stressing that lawyers with disabilities are not an afterthought but indispensable contributors whose talent, resilience and unique perspectives enrich legal practice, justice delivery and policy development.
According to her, disability inclusion must move beyond rhetoric and become a practical component of the NBA’s welfare architecture.
“I believe the welfare of lawyers with disabilities is a true measure of our integrity as a profession. We cannot continue to advocate equality before the law while barriers within our own Bar prevent colleagues from fully participating,” she said.
Ofoegbunam pledged to champion reforms that will make courtrooms, registries, law firms and NBA offices physically accessible through the provision of ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, designated parking spaces and assistive technologies.
She also promised to expand economic opportunities for lawyers with disabilities by advocating increased access to employment, professional briefs, mentorship programmes, pupillage placements and other initiatives that ease their entry into legal practice.
On professional development, the welfare advocate said Continuing Legal Education programmes, conferences and NBA events must become fully accessible through sign language interpretation, accessible learning materials and virtual participation options.
She further pledged to push for health insurance schemes that cover assistive devices, therapy and specialised medical care while promoting partnerships to subsidise essential tools such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and screen-reading technology.
Ofoegbunam also advocated greater representation of lawyers with disabilities within NBA leadership structures, insisting that policies affecting them should be shaped by those with lived experience.
“I will work to ensure that lawyers with disabilities are not merely represented but heard. Their voices, experiences and ideas must help shape our welfare policies and the future of our Association,” she stated.
Calling for an end to stigma and discrimination within the profession, she urged members of the Bar to embrace a culture that celebrates competence, values diversity and guarantees equal opportunity for all.
Reaffirming her vision for an inclusive NBA, Ofoegbunam declared her solidarity with lawyers living with disabilities, assuring them that their welfare will remain a priority if entrusted with the office of National Welfare Secretary.
“When we remove barriers for the most marginalised among us, we strengthen the Bar for everyone. Every lawyer deserves to belong, to be heard and to thrive.”
She called on members of the Association to support her vision of an NBA where welfare truly works for every lawyer, regardless of physical ability.
“Your Welfare Is My Priority.”
