Your Excellencies, my lords, members of the inner bar, distinguished speakers, Council Members and EXCO of the NBAWF, learned colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the 3rd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum & International Women’s Day Event, taking place from 29 to 318 March 2023, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria.
In what has now become a standing tradition, the Forums Annual General Conference is once again being held in March, to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD), which is a global event celebrated annually on March 8t, to honour the achievements of women and to promote gender equality worldwide. Our theme this year, TECH HER IN: INNOVATING FOR GENDER EQUITY, is also fashioned after that of this years WD & the UN, which is centred around the use of Innovation and technology for gender equality.
The thinking is that through the innovative use of technology, female lawyers and indeed female professionals in general will be become better positioned and empowered to overcome the limitations and stereotypical biases that traditionally hold them back in their careers and in life in general.
Our Annual General Conference has become a yearly platform for us to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of the Nigerian Female Lawyer, as well as to raise awareness about the challenges women continue to face at the bar and in our various careers. As we gather here today, we recognise the importance of the Nigerian Female Lawyer in shaping the future of the Bar and our great country, Nigeria.
Women have made significant contributions to the legal profession and continue to do so, however, the bitter truth is that we still face challenges such as gender inequality, discrimination, and lack of representation in leadership posts and certain other areas of the legal profession.
This year’s theme – “TECH HER IN: INNOVATING FOR GENDER EQUITY,” couldn’t have been more apt, considering the fast-paced technological advancement we have experience in our world today and the immense potential it has to even the scales for women and create a level playing field for all, irrespective of gender.
The NBA Women Forum, is a platform created to support and empower the Nigerian female lawyer for success. Initially created in 2006, by the Olisa Agbakoba, SAN led administration, re-inauguration in 2019 by the inspired Paul Usoro, SAN – led administration, phenomenally supported by the Olumide Akpata– led administration and now actively championed, led & supported by our dear he for she inspiring NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, we continue to execute on our mandate and are making giant strides. We have,established this great Forum in all states of the Federation and NBA Branches, secured global collaborations with other leading women-in-law organisations, held programs, both physical and virtual to provide mentorship & advocacy on gender issues, leadership, personal development, career growth, work life balance etc., all geared towards empowering the female lawyer for success.
We are delighted to have all of you here with us today, to share in this special event. This year’s conference is particularly important because we will be discussing how technology and innovation can be leveraged to promote gender equity in Nigeria and the world at large.
We will explore how technology can enhance the capacity and competitiveness of women in the legal profession, promote women’s access to justice, and support women’s rights in the digital age.
We have lined up various amazing speakers, activities and discussions to address some of these pressing issues.
Our speakers will be sharing their personal experiences and insights into how technology and innovation can be utilised to enhance gender equity in Nigeria.
We will also have interactive sessions where participants can share their experiences and ideas.
In closing, I want to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the distinguished speakers and panelists who have graciously agreed to join us today. Your expertise and experience will enrich our discussions and help us develop practical solutions to the challenges facing women in the legal profession.
I also want to thank our sponsors and partners for their support and contributions in making this conference a success.
My gratitude also goes the the EXCO, Council as well as members of the Conference Planning Committee who have worked tirelessly to deliver on what promises to be an impactful event.
I urge us all to participate fully as we reflect on the gains we have made as a society towards gender equity, as well as to identify the areas where more work needs to be done, as this conference presents a unique opportunity for us to share ideas, network, learn from each other, and build stronger partnerships that will enable us to create a more equitable society.
Once again, I welcome you all to the 3rd Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum and look forward to an enriching experience for us all.
Thank you.
Chinyere Okorocha.
Chairperson, NBA Women Forum
