In a recent address at the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, called for a transformative shift towards gender equity within the NBA’s leadership ranks.
Justice Dongban-Mensem underscored a glaring issue: the absence of female representation at the helm of the NBA for over 30 years. Her remarks were delivered amidst a gathering of esteemed legal professionals and dignitaries, emphasizing the urgent need for reform.
“It is disheartening to observe that, for more than three decades, the NBA has yet to see a female president,” Justice Dongban-Mensem remarked, pointing out the historical lack of gender diversity in the association’s highest office. Since its founding, only one woman, Dame Priscilla Kuye, has held the position of NBA president, serving from 1991 to 1992.
The recent NBA election, which saw Afam Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), succeed Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) as president-elect, did not address this gender disparity. Justice Dongban-Mensem’s critique highlights a broader issue within the legal profession—a profession that, despite its strides towards gender parity, still lags in reflecting that progress within its own leadership structures.
“The pursuit of equity and justice must be exemplified within our own ranks,” Justice Dongban-Mensem asserted. “We cannot advocate for societal progress while remaining stagnant in our own practices. It is imperative that the NBA demonstrate genuine commitment to gender equity by electing a female president.”
Her call to action underscores a crucial moment for the NBA to reassess and act upon its commitment to gender equality, reflecting the values of equity it seeks to champion in the broader legal landscape.
