NBA Must Trust Young Lawyers with Leadership – Dr. Enebeli

By Genesis Ogiri

...Unlocking the Legal Potential of Young Lawyers

Abuja, Nigeria – June 2025 | The future of the legal profession hinges on the active participation of young lawyers in leadership and policy development, said Dr. Victor Nonso Enebeli, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. Dr. Enebeli delivered this charge during the Law and Inclusive Development Summit 2025 hosted by the Young Lawyers Forum (YLF) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Garki Branch—popularly known as the Liberty Bar.

The event, themed “Setting the Pace: Young Lawyers as Drivers of Transformative Change,” drew an influential audience of legal professionals, bar executives, and emerging voices within the legal community.

In his keynote, Dr. Enebeli lamented the persistent marginalization of young lawyers across various legal platforms. He noted that despite possessing equal legal qualifications, many junior practitioners are often excluded from key roles within law firms and the broader governance framework of the Bar.

 “It is regrettable that young lawyers are not being given sufficient opportunities—not in private legal practice, not in public legal service, and certainly not within the leadership structure of the Nigerian Bar Association,” he said.

“We must begin to see them not as mere future leaders, but as capable contributors in the present.”

Dr. Enebeli specifically called on the NBA national leadership to intentionally appoint young lawyers to sensitive committee positions, emphasizing that such inclusion should be viewed as a strategic investment in the future of the legal profession—not charity.

 “We have all passed through the same rigorous training as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he stressed. “The uniformity of our certification confirms our equal potential to lead, reform, and deliver justice.”

He challenged NBA branches and law firms alike to restructure their leadership pipelines to be more inclusive, warning that continued exclusion of young minds could result in stagnation and a lack of innovation in the legal field.

While acknowledging the efforts of senior lawyers who have invested in mentoring young practitioners, Dr. Enebeli drew a clear line between mentorship and gatekeeping.

 “True mentorship must translate into tangible results—appointments, visibility, and empowerment,” he declared. “Leadership should open doors, not guard them.”

He proposed a progressive mentorship model that couples knowledge-sharing with responsibility-sharing, urging senior lawyers to become sponsors of the next generation, not just advisors.

Dr. Enebeli’s address aligned with the summit’s goal of envisioning a more responsive and inclusive Bar Association. By emphasizing the unique perspectives, energy, and digital competence that young lawyers bring to the table, he painted a compelling picture of collaborative leadership rooted in intergenerational synergy.

“We must reimagine legal leadership,” he said. “One that blends experience with innovation, and tradition with transformation.”

As Nigeria’s legal system confronts urgent issues ranging from access to justice to digital transformation, the inclusion of young lawyers is no longer optional—it is essential. Dr. Enebeli’s message stands as a powerful clarion call to the legal profession: the future will be shaped not only by senior advocates, but also by young voices equipped with vision, training, and the will to lead.

The 2025 Liberty Bar Summit may well be remembered as a turning point in the quest to democratize leadership within the Nigerian Bar Association—if the call is heeded.




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