Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, becoming only the second woman to lead the association in its 66-year history.
Badejo-Okusanya won the NBA electronic election with 12,317 votes, defeating fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.
She will officially take over as NBA president during the association’s Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt later this month, succeeding the current president, Afam Osigwe (SAN).
Her election marks a major milestone for the legal profession, coming 35 years after Priscilla Kuye became the first woman to head the NBA in 1991.
Badejo-Okusanya studied at the University of Lagos, where she obtained a degree in English before earning a law degree from the same institution.
She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 and began her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP.
In 2007, she joined the Lagos State Government as Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform under former Governor Babatunde Fashola, working in the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore.
She later returned to private legal practice and, in 2017, co-founded Africa Law Practice NG & Company, where she currently serves as Co-Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice.
She was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on September 29, 2025.
Badejo-Okusanya is known for her work in litigation, arbitration and legal administration. She also serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration and belongs to several local and international professional bodies.
Within the NBA, she has held several leadership positions, including Assistant Secretary of the Lagos Branch, member of the National Executive Council and Chair of the 2024 Annual General Conference Planning Committee.
She was awarded the NBA Presidential Medal of Service in 2024 in recognition of her contributions to the association.
Her election marks another milestone in a legal career that has spanned more than two decades.
