As part of its 2025 Annual General Conference themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall”, the Nigerian Bar Association will host a breakout session titled “Women in Leadership” on Monday, 25 August 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
This distinguished panel brings together women’s voices from across sectors, politics, philanthropy, academia, finance, and the judiciary, promising a robust exploration of diversity, inclusion, and leadership through uniquely feminine lenses. Moderated by Aisha Ado Abdulahi, the session features:
Her Excellency Toyin Saraki (Lead Speaker)
A lawyer by training (LLB, LLM, Nigerian Bar, 1989), Toyin Ojora-Saraki is a world-renowned global health advocate and the Founder-President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, where she has championed maternal, newborn, and child health across the continent for over two decades.
She holds key roles as Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, Save the Children’s Newborn Health Champion for Nigeria, and a Global Champion for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Her work exemplifies leadership that transcends borders and sectors, empowering women and children across Africa.
Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti
The first female senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti earned her LL.B at the University of Abuja, was called to the Bar in 2005, and later obtained an MBA in Oil & Gas Management from the University of Dundee.
She established the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program to drive industrial and local entrepreneurship and brought national attention to the stalled Ajaokuta Steel Mill through a pivotal investigative report.
Her political trajectory includes a landmark appeal victory in 2023, affirming her election as Senator, and honours such as the “Senator of the Year” award in 2025. More recently, her outspokenness on gender equity in politics, including allegations of sexual harassment against a Senate President, sparked widespread debate and galvanised protests under the rallying cry “We are all Natasha”.
Hajiya Aisha Babangida
A prominent humanitarian and philanthropist, Aisha Babangida chairs the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman, an initiative started by her late mother, Maryam Babangida, and leads efforts to empower rural women through literacy, skills training, co-operative financing, and educational scholarships.
She founded Egwafin Microfinance Bank and the Women Enterprise Alliance (WENA), platforms committed to financial inclusion and supporting SMEs across Nigeria and Africa.
Her work reflects a legacy of impactful philanthropy, rooted in cultural pride and sustainable community engagement.
Prof. Ifeoma Enemo
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enugu Campus) of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Ifeoma Enemo, earned her LL.B (1980), LL.M (1984), and PhD (1996) from the University of Nigeria. A respected scholar and administrator, she began her career in academia in 1985, advancing through the ranks to full professorship by 2006.
Her administrative stewardship includes roles such as Acting Head of Department, Associate Dean, Acting Dean, and DVC, chairing multiple strategic committees across the Enugu campus.
Justice Ojoma Rachel Haruna
A newly appointed judge of the Kogi State High Court, Justice Ojoma Rachael Haruna, was among four judges sworn in by Governor Ododo in July 2024. At the ceremony, the governor emphasized that “justice is the last hope of the common man,” urging the bench to administer it with fairness, equity, and integrity. Her presence brings the perspective of frontline judicial leadership to the dialogue on women in leadership.
Why This Session Matters
This session embodies the very essence of the AGC theme. Each woman brings a pioneering presence:
- Global public health advocacy (Toyin Saraki),
- Political representation and resilience (Natasha Akpoti),
- Philanthropy and grassroots empowerment (Aisha Babangida),
- Academic and institutional leadership (Prof. Enemo),
- Judicial authority at the grassroots (Justice Haruna).
Their collective insights promise to stimulate vibrant discussion on inclusion, institutional transformation, and the power of diverse leadership. Delegates can look forward to nuanced perspectives on navigating institutional barriers, creating inclusive platforms, and inspiring the next generation of women leaders in law, policy, and governance.
