At the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Uyo Law Week, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya FCIArb delivered a stirring contribution as a panellist during the session themed “Safeguarding the Rule of Law,” offering compelling insights into the legal profession’s role in national development and democratic preservation.
Describing the keynote address as full of nuggets of wisdom that every lawyer should imbibe, she repeated a quote that stood out for her as follows:
“In the heart of every lawyer worthy of the name, there burns a deep ambition so to bear himself that the profession may be stronger because of his passage through its ranks and that he may leave the law itself a better instrument of justice than he found it.”
Opining that the quote resonated with her because it encapsulates why she became a lawyer, she described lawyers as “agents of change,” called to a higher responsibility.
Badejo-Okusanya emphasised that legal practitioners bear not only a professional but also a moral obligation to defend democratic values, protect citizens’ rights, and uphold the rule of law in all circumstances.
She noted that the NBA, under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has been living up to expectations, rising to the challenge of positioning the Bar as a bold and consistent defender of constitutional order and justice in Nigeria.
“The Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN-led NBA, as others before him, has shown remarkable courage and clarity in defending the rule of law. The NBA is a visible and active force in nation-building, and we must all continue to lend our strength to that mission,” she said.
Drawing inspiration from the profession’s legacy, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya urged lawyers to remain resolutely committed to defending the rule of law, stressing that this is one of the most powerful ways to ensure that society functions as it ought.
“When we defend the rule of law, we defend the very framework that makes society work. So we cannot afford to be indifferent,” she charged.
Her words resonated deeply with attendees and fellow panellists, reinforcing the call for principled advocacy, professional courage, and collective action in preserving and promoting justice in Nigeria.
The session was a highlight of the Law Week, leaving participants inspired to embrace their roles not just as legal practitioners, but as builders of a just and democratic society.
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