Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has encouraged women to continue supporting one another, saying collaboration among women will help break barriers and accelerate progress in leadership.
She made the statement while receiving the President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), and a delegation of female lawyers at the State House on Tuesday in Abuja.
Tinubu congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her historic victory, describing her emergence as a major milestone for women in Nigeria and a source of inspiration for future generations.
“You should set the bar and make room for other women coming behind you. This victory means a lot for women in general, ” she said.
The First Lady noted that women are increasingly taking up influential positions in Nigeria’s justice system, pointing to the growing presence of female leaders in key judicial institutions.
She highlighted that the Chief Judge of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal are women, adding that Badejo-Okusanya’s election further demonstrates the expanding role of women in the legal profession.
According to her, women are achieving a lot.
Tinubu also praised Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson, who stepped down from the NBA presidential race and supported Badejo-Okusanya, describing the move as an example of unity and sportsmanship among women.
The incoming NBA president, who won the election with 12,317 votes, thanked the First Lady for her humanitarian efforts through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), particularly its support for vulnerable Nigerians.
“Your work with the Renewed Hope Initiative, in addition to being the First Lady, looks like a full-time job.
”You have set an example for others to emulate, ” he said.
Badejo-Okusanya also pledged the NBA’s support for the initiative, including providing pro bono legal services for people in need.
Her election marks a historic moment for the Nigerian Bar Association, as she becomes the first woman to be directly elected as NBA president and only the second female to lead the association since its establishment in 1933.
She will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028, leading the association into a new chapter in Nigeria’s legal history.
