Enugu, capital of Enugu State in South East Nigeria became a beehive of activities as lawyers in the Delta Justice Ministry, former Nigerian President, Olusequn Obasanjo, a firebrand South African Politician, Julius Malema and over 20,000 lawyers from across the country converged for the 2025 Annual General Conference, AGC, which formally opened on Sunday at the International Conference Center, Enugu, under the theme: “Stand out, Stand Tall.”
In his welcome address, the president of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe challenged lawyers to embody excellence and bravery, particularly in the light of Nigeria’s Socio-economic challenges. “Stand Tall ” means being unbending in our defence of the rule of law, equity and justice, we must have the courage of conviction in moments where silence will otherwise be more comfortable ” he stated.
He stated further that the forum serves as a collective voice, ensuring professionalism, capacity building, and policy advocacy in the delivery of Justice.
The 2025 NBA conference also drew several dignitaries of high repute, including Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who officially declared the conference open. The Governor emphasized that “development cannot be achieved without a justice system that is fair, functional and trusted.”
Another highlight of the event was the presence of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, who emphasised that justice must be accessible to all, not just to the privileged. He warned that when justice becomes a commodity, the poor suffer legal failure while the rich evade accountability.
The conference also featured a powerful keynote from Mr. Julius Malema, President of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). In a standing-ovation moment, he advocated for pan-African unity—including a single currency, a unified military command, and borderless movement across the continent—to break cycles of exploitation and dependency. He rebuked xenophobia and called for homegrown industrialization of Africa’s mineral wealth adding that the NBA conference should be more than a legal forum.
