The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference has always been regarded as a stage where the sharpest legal minds gather to reflect on justice, governance, and the rule of law. For decades, it has been a forum where landmark cases are analyzed and the next generation of lawyers is inspired by giants of the profession. But recent developments at the latest conference have left many asking, is the NBA drifting away from its true purpose?
This year, the spotlight fell not on seasoned constitutional lawyers or respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria, but on figures like Deji Adeyanju, Dino Melaye, and Osita Chidoka lawyers with less than one year of practice. These are individuals who are more popularly known for politics, activism, or public controversy than for any record of serious legal achievement. Their presence on a discussion panel at the NBA conference has sparked an uncomfortable question, what exactly is the NBA turning into?
No one disputes that every lawyer, young or old, deserves a voice. Fresh perspectives matter, and new entrants should be encouraged. But leadership at the NBA conference should not be determined by who makes the most noise on social media or who carries political clout. It should be about the weight of knowledge, the depth of practice, and the ability to guide others with wisdom earned through years of experience.
Where, then, were the legal heavyweights? Where were the Senior Advocates of Nigeria who have defended human rights and shaped Nigerian jurisprudence? Where were the professors who have taught constitutional law for decades, or the firms that have won landmark cases in the Supreme Court? Their absence was loud, and their exclusion, intentional or not, speaks volumes about how the NBA now defines relevance.
The danger in this trend is clear, when popularity replaces substance, professionalism begins to decay. The NBA conference, instead of being a forum of learning and inspiration, risks becoming a political carnival where applause is valued more than wisdom. This is particularly troubling at a time when Nigeria desperately needs a strong, principled bar to hold government accountable and restore public trust in the judiciary.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with inviting activists, politicians, or even celebrities to share perspectives at a conference. But they should complement not replace the voices of those who have paid their dues in the legal profession. By allowing “baby lawyers” with less than a year of practice to lead conversations, the NBA sends the wrong message to young practitioners, that depth and experience no longer matter, only visibility does.
The NBA must ask itself tough questions. Has it become a stage for political performance rather than legal scholarship? Is it still committed to nurturing intellectual rigor and professional excellence? Or is it now chasing headlines and trying to mirror the noisy world of politics and entertainment? If it continues down this path, the NBA risks losing credibility, not only with its members but with the Nigerian public at large.
Ultimately, the future of the NBA conference depends on what it chooses to celebrate, the quiet, steady brilliance of legal minds who have shaped history, or the loud, fleeting presence of personalities who thrive on attention. If the Bar truly wants to remain the conscience of society, it must go back to its roots where substance, not showmanship, is the measure of respect.
Adebamiwa Olugbenga Michael writes from Lagos
