Enugu, August 25, 2025 | 3:00pm – 4:30pm
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference 2025 continues to distinguish itself as a convening ground for thought leadership, as today’s breakout session, Thirty Years After Beijing, brings together an exceptional panel of global and national figures to reflect on the progress of gender equality three decades after the landmark 1995 Beijing Declaration.
The session, slated for 3:00pm to 4:30pm, will interrogate the milestones achieved since Beijing, spotlight persistent challenges, and identify the opportunities that lie ahead in advancing women’s rights and empowerment across all sectors of society.
At the helm of the discussion is Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, whose decades-long experience in policy and institutional reform across Africa has positioned her as a leading advocate for gender-responsive governance. Her presence underscores the global resonance of Beijing’s legacy.
Also featured is Mr. Ugochukwu Oliver Ogbonna, Principal Counsel at WACOL, whose hands-on work in handling over 10,000 gender-based violence cases in Nigeria brings raw, grassroots realities into the conversation. His advocacy for survivors embodies the urgent need to connect international frameworks with lived experiences.
Adding a global governance lens, Prof. Obijiofor Aginam, Director of UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute, will contribute insights on education, peace, and sustainable development as key enablers of gender justice.
Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu, renowned for her fearless stance on civic accountability through movements like #BringBackOurGirls and #EndSARS, is expected to deliver a compelling critique of systemic barriers while inspiring collective action for the next generation.
From the diplomatic front, Gill Lever, Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission in Abuja, brings an international perspective on partnership, policy alignment, and practical leadership, recognised most notably by her OBE award for exemplary service.
Scholarly expertise is further amplified by Prof. Ebenezer Durojaiye, Acting Director of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, who has shaped global human rights frameworks on poverty, health, and reproductive rights. His intervention is poised to enrich debates on structural reforms required in Africa and beyond.
Crowning the panel is Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, OON, Life Bencher, an iconic voice in women’s rights advocacy, founder of WACOL and Tamar SARC, and former UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. With over three decades of pioneering work, Prof. Ezeilo embodies the spirit of Beijing, personifying the resilience and innovation needed to move forward.
Together, these panellists bring a rich blend of policy, law, activism, academia, and diplomacy, making the Thirty Years After Beijing breakout session one of the most anticipated highlights of the NBA-AGC.
As the world reflects on the unfinished business of Beijing, today’s dialogue will not only honour its legacy but also reframe the conversation for a new era of gender justice, accountability, and transformative leadership.
Meet the panelist:
