Ezekwesili endorses Badejo-Okusanya for NBA presidency

Former Minister of Education and Founder of Fix Politics Nigeria, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has thrown her weight behind Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, in the race for President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

In a post on her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Dr. Ezekwesili, a prominent scholar and anti-corruption advocate, praised Badejo-Okusanya’s credentials and vision for the Bar.

“I am delighted to see that the brilliant and amazing Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, is running for NBA President,” Ezekwesili wrote.

She highlighted the candidate’s extensive experience, competence, and courage, noting that her consistent advocacy for professional ethics, arbitration, governance, and improved welfare for young lawyers aligns with the pressing needs of the legal profession.

“Her engagements frequently focus on professional ethics, arbitration, governance, and improving conditions for young lawyers,” Ezekwesili added. “These are the ideals the Bar needs at this moment, and she rightly represents them.”

Born on January 15, 1967, Badejo-Okusanya is a distinguished legal practitioner and scholar. She attended the University of Lagos Staff School for her primary education and proceeded to Federal Government College, Jos, for her secondary education.

She earned a B.A. (Hons) in English from the University of Lagos in 1987 and later obtained a Law degree from the same institution in 2000. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on May 14, 2002.

In July 2011, she was appointed General Counsel to the Governor of Lagos State. In that role, she played a pivotal part in developing the landmark Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) under the Fashola administration.

Badejo-Okusanya returned to private legal practice in June 2015 and has remained actively engaged in the field. In September 2025, she was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), an achievement she holds in high esteem.

If elected, she would make history as the first female President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Her mother, a seasoned university administrator who retired as the first female Registrar of the University of Lagos, also broke barriers in her own right.