The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has defended the inclusion of former Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, popular activist, Deji Adeyanju, and other young lawyers as panelists at its recently concluded 2025 Annual General Conference held in Enugu.
In response to public criticism over their participation, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, said their involvement was part of the NBA’s renewed commitment to inclusiveness, diversity, and giving a platform to younger voices in the legal profession.
The conference, which attracted lawyers from across the country, sparked online debate after a video went viral showing a lawyer, Timothy Tugbiyele, questioning the “special recognition” given to individuals he described as “very junior lawyers” or “non-traditional voices” at the event.
Reacting to the backlash in a statement issued on Saturday, Obegolu explained that the NBA president, Afam Osigwe, SAN, had instructed the planning committee to ensure the conference reflects an “all-inclusive Bar,” where all categories of lawyers — senior, junior, and alternative voices are represented.
“When the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, inaugurated the Conference Planning Committee, he gave us one clear assignment — to make the event memorable and inclusive,” Obegolu said.
“We took that seriously. We featured lawyers and guests from different backgrounds, and that’s why the programme looked the way it did.”
Obegolu acknowledged that some lawyers and observers raised concerns over the presence of Melaye, Adeyanju, and others like former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka and Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, who appeared as a moderator during one of the sessions.
However, he noted that each participant was carefully selected for their unique experience and relevance to the session they participated in.
For example, Chidoka was invited to speak during a panel titled “Setting Forth at Dawn,” where he shared insights from his early entrance into politics and public service. Kanayo, a lawyer and veteran actor, moderated that session because of his pioneering role in Nollywood and his legal background.
On Deji Adeyanju, Obegolu said the activist was featured in a human rights panel alongside seasoned legal professionals, and that his voice brought value to the conversation.
“May that day never come when we refuse to feature young lawyers even though we talk about inclusiveness,” he said, stressing that youth engagement should not just be a slogan, but a reality.
Addressing the inclusion of Dino Melaye, Obegolu clarified that the former senator was not originally scheduled to speak. However, due to the absence of three expected panelists during a session on maritime security, the organisers turned to Melaye to step in, given his experience as a legislator and member of committees on defence and security during his time in the Senate.
“I wonder who would object to having a former legislator, a Senator at that, speaking on such an issue — maritime security from the perspective of legislative oversight. But then, what do I know!” he added jokingly.
Obegolu assured that the NBA remains committed to maintaining professional standards while also evolving to reflect the current realities of the legal community.
“The future of the profession lies in openness — to ideas, to people, to change. We must listen to young lawyers, learn from different experiences, and recognise that legal practice is no longer one-size-fits-all,” he said.
The NBA Annual General Conference is the largest gathering of lawyers in Nigeria and is seen as a platform for setting the tone of legal and public discourse in the country. This year’s edition in Enugu drew wide attention not just for its sessions, but for the broader debate it sparked about inclusivity, respect, and the evolving nature of the legal profession.
