“Courage Over Silence” — NBA President Afam Osigwe Charges Legal Practitioners To Stand Tall For Equity And Justice
At the 2025 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Enugu on Sunday, NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, highlighted the significance of this year’s conference theme, “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”
Addressing legal practitioners from across the country, Osigwe said the theme was more than a slogan, describing it as a call to service and integrity. “To stand out is to be visible—not for show, but for service. To stand tall is to uphold dignity, integrity, and honour, even when the odds are stark and difficult decisions must be made in the best interest of the legal profession and the country,” he said.
He urged lawyers not to remain silent in the face of injustice, stressing the need to “have the courage of conviction in moments where silence would otherwise be more comfortable. This is a call we must embrace.”
Osigwe further encouraged Nigerians to embrace courage, sacrifice, and commitment to justice and equity. “Standing tall means being unbending in our defence of the rule of law, equity, and justice, and being principled in the face of power while remaining unwavering in our pursuit of national progress. To build a strong and economically viable nation, sacrifice will routinely be required of individual citizens,” he added.
The president’s message set a tone of resilience, accountability, and ethical leadership as the NBA convened for one of its most important gatherings of the year.
