First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged women to support one another in their pursuit of leadership positions, saying solidarity among women is key to breaking barriers and achieving greater representation in decision-making.
The First Lady made the call while receiving the President-Elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), and her delegation at her office in Abuja.
Congratulating Badejo-Okusanya on her election, Tinubu described the achievement as a significant milestone for women and encouraged her to create opportunities for others.
“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 are increasingly occupying strategic positions in the nation’s judiciary, citing the emergence of women as Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal, and said the NBA president-elect’s victory further demonstrated the growing impact of women in leadership.
“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 said.
Tinubu also expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as memorable, and prayed for a successful tenure for the incoming NBA president.
“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 added.
The First Lady also commended Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson, who had contested the NBA presidency but later stepped down and mobilised support for Badejo-Okusanya, describing the gesture as an uncommon display of sportsmanship and unity among women.
Earlier, Badejo-Okusanya paid tribute to the First Lady for her humanitarian interventions through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), particularly programmes targeted at vulnerable Nigerians.
She said Senator Tinubu had demonstrated exemplary leadership through the initiative, describing her efforts as worthy of emulation.
“Your job 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. We thank you for all that you have been doing,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya also pledged the Nigerian Bar Association’s readiness to partner with the First Lady and the Renewed Hope Initiative by providing pro bono legal services for vulnerable members of society where necessary.
She explained that 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 to the office and only the second female president in the association’s history, a feat widely regarded as a landmark achievement for women in the legal profession.
