The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria successfully hosted its 2025 Parley on Wednesday, August 27, at the Villa Toscana Hotel Event Centre, Enugu. Themed “Unleash Your Inner Hero, Strategize, Overcome, Evolve”, the event brought together distinguished legal and academic minds to discuss resilience, performance, and the evolving role of female lawyers in today’s demanding professional climate.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., former Minister of Information, who underscored the importance of leadership, innovation, and adaptability in overcoming challenges within and outside the legal profession. His address set the tone for the conversations that followed, highlighting the need for Nigerian lawyers to evolve beyond traditional practice in order to meet global standards.
The Parley’s guest speaker, Chidiebele Petronilla Ojukwu, PT., Ph.D, Associate Professor of Women’s Health and Pelvic Physiotherapy at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, spoke on “Lifestyle modifications for managing stress, burnout and improving performance in law.” She emphasized that effective stress management is crucial to sustaining excellence in the legal profession, noting that burnout not only affects productivity but also undermines overall well-being.
A robust panel session followed, moderated by Dr. Grace Perpetual Dafiel, a law lecturer at Veritas University. Panelists included Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson, Dean of Law, Caleb University; Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, Managing Partner, Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore; Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, Principal Partner, Akinboro & Co.; and Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, Partner at Africa Law Practice NG & Co. Together, they offered diverse perspectives on balancing professional demands with personal growth, while reinforcing the importance of continuous evolution in legal practice.
The AWLA Nigeria Parley 2025 reaffirmed the association’s role as a platform for empowerment, dialogue, and strategic thinking. With Enugu as its host city, the event not only provided lawyers with actionable insights to thrive in an ever-changing profession but also reinforced AWLA’s vision of fostering inclusive growth and resilience among women lawyers across Nigeria.
