The Nigerian Bar Association is pleased to announce that His Excellency George Manneh Weah, a former President of the Republic of Liberia, will deliver the Keynote Address at this year’s Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt.
Popularly known across the globe simply as George Weah, our Keynote Speaker holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration from the DeVry University in Miami, Florida, United States.
In recognition of his accomplishments in the fields of sports, humanity, peace-building, education, and good governance, the pan-African statesman has also been awarded three honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters by the AME Zion University, Cuttington University and the University of Liberia.
As the President of the Republic of Liberia (2018–2024), one of his first actions in office was to reduce his salary and other benefits by 25% with immediate effect. His tenure witnessed improvements in the country’s infrastructure. He introduced policies to improve access to education, including making tuition free at public universities.
In a rare demonstration of statesmanship, His Excellency Weah stepped down from the presidency in 2024 after a runoff election in which his closest rival polled 50.64% to his 49.36%. His decision not to challenge the outcome of the elections despite the razor-thin margin, and to relinquish power, cemented Weah’s reputation as a principled democrat, an honourable statesman, and a distinguished African who is a model of good governance.
Before entering partisan politics, George Weah had served as the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF from 1997. In 2004, he received the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award from ESPN for his work on behalf of children who were affected by conflict, disease, and poverty.
In 1995, George Weah became the first and, to date, only African footballer to win the Ballon d’Or, the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, and the African Footballer of the Year Award in the same year—an historic feat.
The announcement of His Excellency Weah as the Keynote Speaker for this year’s Conference underscores the commitment of the Nigerian Bar to elevate the quality of discourse and to deepen conversations on the issues to be explored in the context of this year’s theme: Beyond Limits.
Both as a politician and sportsman, Weah has continued to inspire millions of youths across the world as a symbol of hope, resilience, and service. His exceptional achievements and extraordinary accomplishments are a reflection of the spirit of aspiring Beyond Limits.
As our country prepares for its General Elections next year at a pivotal moment in our nation’s economic and political evolution, this year’s conference presents a platform for a critical evaluation of our choices as Africa’s largest Bar. To this end, an array of seasoned, experienced, and diverse speakers have been assembled to lead discussions and to provide incisive insights.
Following the resounding success of last year’s conference in Enugu, where His Excellency Julius Malema delivered the keynote address on the theme “Stand Out, Stand Tall,” this year’s conference promises to be a significant event that is poised to be a reference point for many years.
Abdul Muhammed, SAN
Chairman, AGCPC
