The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has extended a hand of partnership to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urging closer collaboration to strengthen the legal profession and advance justice in the country.
In a goodwill message to the NBA on the occasion of its 2025 Annual General Conference, the NLS praised the NBA’s record of defending democracy, championing judicial independence, and pushing reforms in legal education, digital transformation, and professional ethics.
The NLS, describing itself as the “younger brother” of the NBA, said the time had come for both associations to move beyond coexistence and embrace genuine cooperation.
“We extend our hand in genuine partnership, eager to forge deeper collaborations with the NBA across all fronts. Imagine the boundless possibilities that unfold when our two great institutions combine their wisdom, their resources, and their passion,” the NLS said in a statement signed by its President, Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN, and General Secretary, Olasupo Ojo, Esq.
The society stressed that unity within the profession was critical as Nigeria navigates “immense potential and persistent challenges,” noting that bar associations around the world — from South Africa to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom had successfully fostered collaborative models of legal leadership.
The message also lauded the NBA’s role as “a steadfast guardian of Nigeria’s legal heritage,” adding that under its present leadership, the association had “transformed challenges into stepping stones for progress.”
According to the NLS, joint initiatives in legal reform, public interest litigation, pro bono services, and human rights protection would help create “a stronger legal profession and a stronger Nigeria.”
The NBA’s Annual General Conference, one of the largest gatherings of legal practitioners in Africa is holding in Lagos from August 22 to 29, 2025, with thousands of lawyers, judges, policymakers, and international delegates expected to attend.
The NLS said it hoped the conference would further inspire deliberations, strengthen professional bonds, and produce resolutions that would “advance the very fabric of our legal system.”
