Young Lawyers, Bold Futures: Akangbe Urges the Next Generation to Lead the Change

Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, a distinguished legal mind and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch, has delivered a rousing call to action for young lawyers across Nigeria. Speaking in a goodwill message at the NBA Young Lawyers’ Forum, Garki Branch’s 2025 Annual Law and Inclusive Development Summit, themed “Setting the Pace,” Akangbe urged the rising generation of legal practitioners to be bold, purposeful, and proactive in shaping both the legal profession and society at large.

Describing young lawyers as the “engine room of renewed innovation and astute advocacy,” Akangbe emphasized their critical role in championing reform and progress. “You must not wait on the sidelines,” he said. “Lead the charge for a more progressive Bar and a better society. The future you help build today is the one you’ll benefit from most.”

Encouraging vision, purpose, and deliberate effort, he reminded attendees that their contributions now will shape the nation’s legal landscape. “No one features in a future they fail to picture or fight for. Now is the time to be intentional, to put in the work, and to dream,” he declared.

Akangbe also commended the NBA Garki Branch Young Lawyers’ Forum for their leadership and commitment to thought leadership and excellence. “The future is watching,” he concluded, “and it belongs to you.”