The 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference, hosted in the coal city of Enugu, has officially come to a close after a week of engaging sessions, high-level debates, and diverse participation. From August 22 to 28, the event brought together legal minds, policymakers, academics, activists, and professionals from different walks of life, reaffirming the NBA’s reputation for convening thought-provoking discussions beyond the legal profession.
However, the conference was not without controversy, the controversy, which trended within professional and public circles, centered on whether seasoned senior lawyers were sidelined in favor of younger voices. Critics pointed to figures such as Osita Chidoka, activist Deji Adeyanju, and actor-lawyer Kanayo O. Kanayo playing visible roles, while others argued that the mix of panelists reflected the NBA’s long-standing tradition of inclusivity, diversity, and cross-disciplinary expertise.
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NBA AGC 2025: FINAL REFLECTION.
The Annual General Conference 2025 just concluded in Enugu State which took place in the coal city state from Friday, 22/8/ 2025 – Thursday, 28/8/25 has generated intense reactions from Lawyers and Non- Lawyers.
The crux of the intervention centered hugely on the propriety of allowing ” young” lawyers to dominate the sessions and take the shine, whilst relegating older and senior lawyers to the background.
Yesterday I made the point that the dissent captured above, with respect is exaggerated and does not reflect the reality of NBA conferences as I know and have always participated in. The just concluded conference did not alter the pattern of conferences. Enugu 2025 introduced nothing new!
AGC 2025 started like those of previous years with the Jumaat service, Delegates registration, Healthwork, Church service, Pre- NEC, Welcome cocktail etc. Save for the church service on sunday, the preliminary programmes took place between friday and saturday.
The opening ceremony was slated for sunday like previous years. That occasion was like past years, the galore of addresses from the President of the NBA, Conference Local Organizing Committee, the Chairman of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee, The Governor of the host state, in this case Enugu, Keynote Address etc.
After the opening ceremony from Monday – Wednesday just like in previous editions, is the plenary and break out sessions. The plenary involves all the conferees attending the session where a topic of interest general to all lawyers are discussed by the panelists.
Afterwards is the break out session where conferees attend sessions on divergent issues as it tickled their fancy and interests. The sessions are on divergent issues ranging from law to sundry issues in the country.
Let me add that the NBA Conference is not solely on law and practice, it involves a discourse on policies, currents and emerging issues of interests, hence why the panelists and the discussants are not exclusively lawyers.
Top notch professionals in several endeavours, activists, policy formulators etc are invited to address lawyers. It is worthy of note that though principally Lawyers’ affair, non- lawyers are permitted to register and attend. Then there is provision for in – person and virtual attendance.
The Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday and immediately following that is the final press conference declaring the conference closed.
It is worthy of note that the panelists, moderators and coordinators in Enugu 2025 just like previous conferences have a pluralistic disposition. Academics, Senior Advocates/Senior Lawyers, Judges, Young lawyers and other professionals.
The roll call for Enugu 2025 was impressive. Justices Nnamdi Dimgba ( Justice of the Court of Appeal- JCA), Onyinye Anumonye, Theresa Obot, Gabriel Kio headlined the Judges roster at Enugu AGC 2025.
Etigwe Uwa SAN , Boma Alabi SAN, Isaiah Bozimo SAN, Ama Etuwewe SAN, Monday Ubani etc made the list of Senior Advocates.
Hon. Minister Tunji Bello, Madam Oby Ezekwesili, etc filled the list for other professionals.
These are the cream of the panelists/ moderators/ speakers at the concluded AGC 2025. Deji, KOK, Christian Aniukwu etc are younger lawyers who played significant roles at the conference.
This is the pattern with other previous years. Former Finance Minister, Okonjo Iweala has once spoken at NBA conferences ditto for other accomplished big wigs in other walks of life.
All I have written thus far is the modus of NBA Conferences. I reiterate Enugu AGC 2025 introduced nothing new!
THE CONTROVERSY.
This centered principally on Osita Chidoka, Adeyanju Deji and Kanayo O Kanayo .
Before I delve into specifics let me say that law is a disipline embraced by many at different stages of their lives.
I read law as first degree, there are accomplished individuals in several disciplines and endeavours that read law at latter years of their lives. They come with huge experience and maturity.
May I also add that seniority at the bar does not equate with knowledge in every area of law and life endeavours.
I am a Lawyer with the Ministry of Justice in Anambra State. I prosecute criminals and defend Government of Anambra State in civil litigations, I also do appeals from both areas. This is my brief.
I am older at the bar than Oliver Gift Chukkol . Oliver is a brilliant lawyer. He works with Templars. He is neck deep in the commercial area of things, the crux of his work in his law firm does not form the thrust of my practice.
Accordingly though I am his senior by miles at the bar, in his core practice areas I am young in knowledge!
Osita Chidoka is a former Minister and Corp Marshall of FRSC, he is far my younger colleague at the Bar, but his experience, exposture and milestones dwarf mine!
Kenneth Ononeze Okwor in a previous conference then as a young law school lecturer, with an impressive resume, which includes post graduate studies at Cambridge, discussed the state of the legal education.In that panel was Prof. Chiroma SAN DG of Nigerian Law School.
Jake Okechukwu Effoduh Esq is a brillant young lawyer by call who has a rich profile and majors in emerging areas like Artificial intelligence. He lectures and delivers papers in numerous fora. He is a younger colleague by call to bar, but in his core niche area, I do not have that knowlege!
What NBA does in her conference is to constitute a panel of Lawyers / Speakers of varying experience including old and ” young” lawyers to speak on their area of competence! The understanding is that the Bar is a fusion of varieties and a learning curve for the youngsters.
AGC 2025 followed that same pattern. Deji Adeyanju at the opening ceremony merely read out the profile of Julius Malema and called him on stage to deliver a keynote address. He was not alone in the opening session..His role as described was periphery.
Messrs Afam Osigwe SAN, Akajiugo Emeka Obegolu SAN, Kizor Akaraiwe SAN etc delivered addresses at the opening session. The peripheral role played by Deji does not cast a slur on that event!
Deji before he read law was neck deep in activism . With his experience he can on the merit speak on Access to Justice. Bear in mind he was not alone. Prof Uju Agomoh was the lead speaker in that session, the panel for that session comprised Peter Omenka, Ubani Monday Onyekachi SAN and others. They were seven on that panel!
Osita Chidoka with Abdul Mohammed SAN, Mia Essien SAN and others spoke at the plenary on setting forth at dawn. The theme is just essentially on doing the needful timeously.
Osita with his profile can comfortably speak on that! Kanayo O. Kanayo moderated that session, which is no big deal. Senator Dino Melaye was not a panelist. He merely gave legislative insight as a legislator when his views was sought.
The NBA conference at Enugu had over 20 sessions, the participation of Dele, KOK and Chidoka et al does not take the shine from others neither did it diminish the conference! They were not involved in all the sessions and never doninated it as opined by critics!
Madam Oby Ezekwesili, Seun Akinboloye of Channels TV, Minister Tunji Bello are not lawyers. They were panelist/ moderator at different sessions at that conference.
This is nothing strange. The sum of the arrangement is that the panelists and moderators are drawn from individuals both lawyers and otherwise with diverse background, knowledge and specialty! It is a fusion of the young and old!
This state of affairs extend to roles that take place behind the camera. Dr. Anne Uruegi Agi , Sherina Okoye etc have once served as rappoteurs at the Bar Conference. Akaraiwe SAN a much senior and older lawyer if I recall vividly led this group.
This is always the pattern.
The conference was solid. Kudos to the Bar leadership and the planning committee for a flawlesss performance!
Next year we go again!
Ifeanyi Agwuncha
