At the just-concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference 2025 in Enugu, all eyes turned to Yemi Akangbe SAN as he delivered one of the most impactful speeches of the event. His session, titled “A Peep into the Future,” was more than just a talk, it was a visionary blueprint for the Bar of tomorrow.
Akangbe SAN emphasized three core pillars:
- A member-centric NBA that puts the welfare of its lawyers first.
- Transformational leadership that drives real change beyond rhetoric.
- Digitization as the key to building a smarter, future-ready association.
“This is an NBA that invests deeply in its members,” Akangbe SAN declared, urging the Bar to embrace technology and adapt to the changing realities of legal practice.
70% of NBA Members Are Young Lawyers
Highlighting that nearly 70% of NBA members are young lawyers, Akangbe SAN pointed to the pressing need for innovation. He drew inspiration from the American Bar Association’s pioneering app that equips lawyers with digital tools for case management, research, and practice growth.
For Akangbe SAN, the NBA of the future must deliver tangible value. He proposed that payment of the Practicing Bar Fee (PBF) should come with a practical reward: an official NBA app for case management and practice support.
“When members see real benefit like this, even a small fee becomes acceptable,” he noted.
Welfare as the Heart of the Bar
Akangbe SAN reflected on his visit to Aba, where young lawyers shared their frustrations about the lack of welfare support from the NBA. He reminded the audience that past administrations once prioritized member welfare, such as offering free legal stamps linked to PBF payments.
“This was proof that when the Bar prioritizes welfare, lawyers feel valued,” he said. “Sadly, that focus is missing today.”
Walking off the podium with handshakes and smiles, the energy in the hall was electric. But when asked outside the venue whether such reforms were truly possible, Yemi Akangbe SAN’s response was both candid and resolute:
“It’s a talk show, but the difference is in implementation. For me, I’ll keep pushing until real change happens.”
Why This Matters for the NBA
Akangbe SAN’s “Peep into the Future” is more than a speech, it’s a call to action for an NBA that:
- Embraces digitization to empower lawyers.
- Makes lawyer welfare a central priority.
- Commits to transformational leadership that delivers results.
As Nigerian lawyers debate the future of their professional body, the question now is clear: Are we ready to build the NBA of tomorrow, today?
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