Afam Osigwe has officially taken office as the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in a ceremony held in Lagos. Osigwe, who succeeded Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, was sworn in on Thursday, marking the beginning of his term as the leader of the esteemed legal organization.
Elected in July 2023, Osigwe assumed the role following the end of Maikyau’s tenure. Previously the NBA’s General Secretary, Osigwe won the presidential election by defeating two other candidates. The Chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee, Oluseun Abimbola, announced Osigwe's victory after he secured 50.52 percent of the votes.
Osigwe received 20,435 votes, surpassing Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman of the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Council, who received 10,998 votes (27.19 percent). Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), the former Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, came in third with 9,018 votes (22.29 percent).
In his inaugural address, Osigwe reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the NBA's influential role in the country’s democratic process. “Under my leadership, the Nigerian Bar Association will not hesitate to hold federal and state governments accountable. The rule of law must be upheld, and the rights of Nigerians must be protected,” he declared.
Osigwe also expressed his gratitude to NBA members for their trust. “I am deeply honored by this responsibility, and I pledge to work tirelessly to advance the interests of our members and the broader Nigerian society,” he stated.
