The newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has officially assumed office as the 32nd President of the NBA in a ceremony held in Lagos.
Osigwe, who succeeded Mr Yakubu Maikyau, took the oath of office on Thursday, marking the start of his tenure as the leader of the prestigious legal body.
Elected to the position in July 2023, Osigwe has taken over from Maikyau, whose tenure concluded today.
The new president, formerly the General Secretary of the NBA, secured the position in the NBA presidential election by defeating two other contestants.
He was declared the winner by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, Oluseun Abimbola, after securing 50.52 per cent of the votes cast.
Osigwe received 20,435 votes, surpassing Tobenna Erojikwe, the Chairman of the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Council, who garnered 10,998 votes (27.19 per cent). Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), the former Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, came third with 9,018 votes (22.29 per cent).
In his inaugural speech, Osigwe emphasised his commitment to ensuring that the NBA remains a powerful voice in the nation’s democratic process.
“Under my watch, the Nigerian Bar Association will not shy away from holding the 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 the members of the NBA for entrusting him with the leadership of the association.
“I am deeply honoured by this responsibility, and I pledge to work tirelessly to advance the interests of our members and the broader Nigerian society,” he said.
