The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 2025 Annual General Conference has ended on a successful note, but not without raising questions about the role of young lawyers in the Association’s flagship event.
When the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, inaugurated the Annual General Conference Planning Committee (AGCPC), he charged the team with a singular mandate: to deliver a memorable experience for members and guests. He also emphasized that his vision of an all-inclusive Bar must reflect in every aspect of the conference programme.
By most accounts, the conference met and even surpassed expectations. Participants described it as engaging, diverse, and innovative. However, some lawyers expressed dissatisfaction over the choice of certain panelists.
Among those named were Chief Osita Chidoka, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Deji Adeyanju, and Senator Dino Melaye. Critics argued that these figures, being relatively new wigs or non-traditional practitioners, were accorded undue prominence at the expense of more experienced lawyers.
The Chairman of the AGCPC, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, dismissed the criticism, explaining that each of the panelists made meaningful contributions within their areas of expertise. He stressed that none of them spoke outside their remit.
Chief Osita Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation and Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, spoke on the panel titled “Setting Forth at Dawn.” According to Obegolu, Chidoka’s rise to public office at a young age made him a fitting example of the theme.
Nollywood veteran and lawyer Kanayo O. Kanayo moderated the same session. His groundbreaking role in the Nigerian film industry, starting with the classic Living in Bondage, highlighted his experience as a pioneer who set forth early in life.
On his part, activist Deji Adeyanju featured in a panel on human rights. The session brought together both young and senior lawyers, underscoring the NBA’s intention to balance perspectives. Obegolu remarked that inclusiveness would be meaningless if young lawyers were excluded.
The inclusion of Senator Dino Melaye was described as circumstantial. Three speakers failed to attend a session on maritime security, and organizers appealed to Melaye, a former legislator with oversight experience, to step in at the last minute.
Obegolu said the NBA remains committed to giving young lawyers space in its conferences. He argued that their involvement prevents events from becoming echo chambers of the past and instead transforms them into laboratories for the future.
Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Obegolu reminded lawyers that young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation, empowered as agents for development and peace.
He added that young lawyers bring fresh academic insights, awareness of emerging legal trends, and stronger familiarity with technology and social issues. According to him, these qualities enrich conversations, promote mentorship, and encourage professional growth.
The AGCPC chairman also warned against undervaluing accomplished individuals simply because they are recent entrants to the profession. He argued that years at the Bar should not be the sole measure of credibility in discussions.
Out of more than 150 speakers at the conference, Obegolu noted, only a negligible number were “new wigs.” He described it as unfair that such a small representation could become the subject of disproportionate criticism.
Looking back, he expressed gratitude for a successful conference and reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to inclusiveness. “The lesson is clear,” he said. “Young lawyers have wisdom too, and their voices must continue to be heard in the NBA.”