First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday urged women to support one another in their quest for leadership positions, saying greater cooperation among women would accelerate progress in breaking long-standing barriers and expanding opportunities for female participation in public life.
Speaking while receiving the President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, at her office in Abuja, the First Lady described the lawyer’s emergence as a significant milestone for women and an encouragement to others aspiring to leadership positions. NigerianPolitics Coverage
In a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu said Badejo-Okusanya’s election conveyed a strong message that women could attain greater heights through dedication, collaboration and mutual support.
“You should set the bar and make room for other women coming behind you. This victory means a lot for women in general”, the First Lady said.
She noted that women were increasingly occupying strategic positions within Nigeria’s judiciary, pointing to the emergence of female heads of key judicial institutions as evidence of the progress being made. History
“I just shared with my last guest that in the judiciary now, women are holding sway. The Chief Judge is a woman, the President of the Court of Appeal is a woman and now you are the President-elect of the NBA. Women are achieving a lot”, she added.
The First Lady congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her election and expressed confidence that she would have a successful tenure at the helm of the association.
“This is a visit that would be remembered by my office for a long time to come. I can only pray for you and wish you a successful tenure”, she said.
Senator Tinubu also commended Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson, who had contested for the NBA presidency but later stepped down in support of Badejo-Okusanya, describing the gesture as an uncommon display of sportsmanship and solidarity among women.
Earlier, the NBA President-elect praised the First Lady for the impact of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), particularly its interventions targeted at vulnerable Nigerians. NigerianPolitics Coverage
She said Senator Tinubu had demonstrated exemplary commitment to humanitarian service beyond the responsibilities of her office.
“Your job with the RHI, in addition to being the First Lady, looks like a full-time job. You have set an example for others to emulate. We thank you for all that you have been doing. These are so much”, Badejo-Okusanya said.
She also pledged the readiness of the Nigerian Bar Association to partner with the First Lady and the Renewed Hope Initiative by providing pro bono legal services for vulnerable members of society. NigerianPolitics Coverage
According to her, the visit was to share the joy of her election with the First Lady and appreciate her support for women’s advancement.
Badejo-Okusanya was elected on July 19, 2026, as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association, becoming the first woman to be directly elected and the second female president in the history of the association.