Enugu, August 24, 2025 – The annual gathering of legal minds got a landmark start yesterday as Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), formally opened the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) at Enugu’s International Conference Centre under the stirring theme “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”
In a stirring welcome address, President Osigwe challenged lawyers to embody excellence and bravery, particularly in light of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges. “Standing tall means being unbending in our defence of the rule of law, equity and justice… We must have the courage of conviction in moments where silence will otherwise be more comfortable,” he stated.
The opening ceremony drew several dignitaries of high repute, including Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who officially declared the conference open. The Governor emphasized that “development cannot be achieved without a justice system that is fair, functional and trusted.”
He also lauded Enugu’s preparations, digitalising courts, implementing justice autonomy, and improving infrastructure, for providing a fitting venue for the AGC.
Another highlight of the event was the presence of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, who emphasised that justice must be accessible to all, not just to the privileged. He warned that when justice becomes a commodity, the poor suffer legal failure while the rich evade accountability.
The conference also featured a powerful keynote from Mr. Julius Malema, President of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). In a standing-ovation moment, he advocated for pan-African unity—including a single currency, a unified military command, and borderless movement across the continent—to break cycles of exploitation and dependency. He rebuked xenophobia and called for homegrown industrialization of Africa’s mineral wealth.
What This Means for AGC 2025
With that dynamic opening, the NBA AGC 2025 clearly signals its ambition: to be more than a legal forum. The event will be an incubator for conversations on national progress, systemic justice, and African unity, driven by fearlessness, conviction, and transformative action.
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