Getting to the Top Is Easier, Staying There Is the Real Test: NBA President Charges SAN Designates at BOSAN Induction
The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) yesterday hosted the induction of newly conferred Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Designates, a prestigious honour widely regarded as the peak of achievement in legal practice.
Delivering a keynote address at the ceremony, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, issued a powerful charge to the inductees. He congratulated them on reaching the pinnacle of the profession, but reminded them that “getting to the top is easier; staying there is the real test.”
Mazi Osigwe SAN stressed that sustaining the dignity of the silk rank demands discipline, resilience, and accountability. He urged the inductees to avoid the temptation of unhealthy rivalry or pressure to match their colleagues’ professional or financial successes.
“Move at your own pace,” he said. “Do not measure your worth by another’s trajectory. The real mark of success lies in integrity and consistency, not competition.”
The NBA President also drew their attention to Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which mandates lawyers to act in obedience to the law and serve as role models, particularly to the younger generation of practitioners.
He cautioned the SAN designates to shed unprofessional habits that may have been tolerated before their elevation. These include disparaging court judgments without proper reading and publicly commenting on pending matters before the courts.
“Such conduct must stop the moment you assume the rank of Senior Advocate,” he declared.
His remarks were widely received as a timely reminder that the SAN title carries not only prestige but also a heightened responsibility to uphold ethical standards and lead with distinction within the legal profession.
The formal conferment ceremony of the new SANs will take place at the Supreme Court of Nigeria on September 29, 2025.
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