A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, Mr Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, has extended goodwill to members of the NBA Women Forum (NBA-WF) on the occasion of their 2026 Annual General Conference holding in Kano State, even as he raised strong concerns over what he described as a controversial leadership decision. While commending the Forum for convening what he noted to be a timely conference themed around leadership, legacy and support, Akangbe expressed disappointment at his exclusion from participating in panel sessions, a departure from established convention.
In a strongly worded message, the senior advocate criticised the NBA-WF leadership for allegedly barring all male presidential aspirants from speaking roles at the conference, describing the move as unjustified and contrary to the principles of inclusivity and democratic engagement. He warned that the decision deprives members of the opportunity to interact with aspirants and gain diverse perspectives, urging the Forum’s leadership to reconsider its stance in the interest of fairness, unity and the credibility of the Association.
Read full statement below;
WHEN INCLUSION BECOMES EXCLUSION: A GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM MR LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE, SAN TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION WOMEN FORUM (NBA-WF) ON THE OCCASION OF THE FORUM’S 2026 ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE TAKING PLACE IN KANO STATE AND A NOTE ON THE NBA-WF LEADERSHIP’S DECISION TO SHUT OUT MALE PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS
1. It is with utmost delight that I congratulate the membership of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBA-WF) on the occasion of their Annual General Conference taking place in the ancient city of Kano from 27 March 2026 to 1 April 2026.
2. While I had looked forward to participating in at least one of the high-level intellectual panel sessions lined up by the organising committee, as has become the convention, I was regrettably denied that privilege by the leadership of the NBA-WF. Nevertheless, I wish the membership of the NBA-WF a very fruitful Conference and I will attend the Conference and contribute to the success of the Conference in other ways possible.
3. The Theme of this Year’s Conference “Time to Gain: Building a Culture of Leadership, Legacy & Support” is as timely as it is important. The importance of the Forum, which is the umbrella body of the foremost professional membership association in Nigeria and the most influential network of legal practitioners in Africa cannot be overemphasised. At a time when the wider Nigerian society is earnestly yearning for quality leadership in every facet of our national life and for champions to address the societal ills that continue to plague our society, the 2026 Annual General Conference of the Forum could not have come at a better time.
4. It is precisely because of the above reasons that I am constrained to call out the highly unusual and deeply troubling actions of the present leadership of the NBA-WF in excluding all male aspirants to the office of the President of our noble Association from participating in panel sessions at the 2026 Conference.
5. I must of necessity state that the opportunity to speak as a panelist at the general conference of the NBA as well as those of the various Branches, Fora and Sections of the NBA is not a legal or enforceable right but at the discretion of the applicable organisers; the invitation is merely a privilege that should not be taken for granted. However, it has become conventional to invite aspirants to the different elective offices of our Association, especially the office of the President at such events. I therefore took it for granted that all aspirants to the office of the President of our noble Association would be invited to participate in panel sessions at the 2026 Conference.
6. As the dates for the 2026 Conference drew near, I was initially concerned when I did not receive an invitation, but my concern turned to profound dismay when I confirmed that the leadership of the NBA-WF had decided to depart from convention and exclude all male Presidential aspirants from participating in panel sessions at the 2026 Annual General Conference of the NBA-WF, a decision that is without justification and which undermines the very democratic ethos that the Forum undoubtedly upholds.
7. It is instructive to add that the NBA-WF is not an independent body without affiliation to the NBA. The NBA-WF is a Forum of the NBA and a vital part of the Association whose aims and objectives include commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria. Additionally, whoever emerges as the President of the NBA will be the President of the Association alongside all Branches, Fora and Sections. The Annual General Conference of the NBA-WF therefore provides the Forum and its members with a veritable opportunity to draw from the experience of a diverse array of speakers including Presidential aspirants who utilise the opportunity to further consult and receive firsthand feedback on the issues plaguing the various Branches, Fora and Sections of the Association. Regrettably, by its present actions, the leadership has chosen to deprive the Forum’s membership of this invaluable opportunity.
8. Putting it starkly, the leadership of the NBA-WF has, by this singular act, denied the conference delegates and the generality of the membership of the Forum the opportunity to “gain new perspectives and strengthen [their] collective legacy.” This is a deliberate affront to the ideals of inclusivity and democratic participation that the NBA-WF has historically championed.
9. I wish to place on record that I have received phone calls and messages from a wide range of discerning members of the Forum who were deeply uncomfortable with the actions of the leadership. The groundswell of concern is unmistakable. I am therefore gratified to note that the general membership is not aligned with the leadership on this critical issue, and I respectfully urge the leadership to take heed.
1. As the Conference begins today, let me once again congratulate the membership of the NBA-WF on the occasion of their Annual General Conference and wish them fruitful deliberations. I trust that the leadership will reflect on this and that this episode will serve as a learning curve for us to do better for the sake of posterity and the enduring credibility of the Forum.
See you in Kano State.
27 March 2026
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LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Former Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch
