By Mardiyyah Abubakar
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), to set a high standard and create opportunities for more women to take up leadership positions.
The First Lady made the call on Tuesday when she received Badejo-Okusanya and a delegation of women lawyers at the State House in Abuja.
She described Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence as the first elected female President of the NBA as a major step for gender inclusion and a reflection of the importance of women supporting one another.
Mrs Tinubu encouraged the new NBA president to make a lasting impact during her tenure and build public confidence in women seeking leadership roles.
“I believe that your profession is quite conservative. Mine is to wish you well and to thank all the women who stood by you,” the First Lady said.
“It is very important for women to support each other. We pray that your tenure will bring more women into leadership. You have to really set the bar high.”
She pledged to support the NBA in any way the association might require.
Badejo-Okusanya thanked the First Lady for receiving her and the delegation.
She praised the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), saying NBA members appreciated its efforts to reduce poverty and support vulnerable Nigerians.
The new NBA president said women within the legal profession played a major role in her election victory.
“Everybody played a part in ensuring that I won the election,” she said.
“Your Excellency, you have set a good example for others to follow. We in the legal profession know that we also have a role to play.”
Badejo-Okusanya added that the NBA looked forward to partnering with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
