Commendation to the 32nd Nigerian Bar Association Administration on Disability Inclusion

I cannot ignore this fantastic reality. Thus, i warmly commend the Nigerian Bar Association administration, led by Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President, and the entire National Executive Council for the historic adoption of the NBA Disability Inclusion Policy at the NEC Meeting in Awka on May 7, 2026, and further implementation. This calls for celebration.

My sincere greetings to you, the executives, the NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum, and to all stakeholders who made this landmark achievement possible. By becoming the first Bar Association in Africa to adopt a comprehensive Disability Inclusion Policy for the legal profession, the NBA has shown true leadership.

Why this matters for the welfare of lawyers at all stages:

1. For Young Lawyers & Law Students: It guarantees reasonable accommodation, accessible infrastructure, and equal opportunities from the point of entry into practice. No lawyer should have to crawl into a courtroom or be shut out because of barriers.
2. For Mid-Career & Senior Practitioners: The Policy provides for accessibility in physical spaces, digital platforms, meetings, and communication systems, plus reasonable accommodation and inclusive participation in leadership and professional development.
3. For the Bar as a Whole: It institutionalizes equality, non-discrimination, disability awareness training, and accountability mechanisms. This moves us from sympathy to rights protection and strengthens member welfare by ensuring every lawyer matters.

This Policy, rooted in our Constitution, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act, and the UNCRPD, reinforces the NBA’s commitment to justice, dignity, and inclusion.

Congratulations to the NBA. This is indeed, welfare in action… protecting, empowering, and making room for all members to thrive.

Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam

Candidate, NBA National Welfare Secretary.

#WelfareFirstAlways #EveryLawyerMatters #Inclusion