Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Enugu, the political capital of the South East, is agog with excitement as no fewer than 20,000 legal luminaries arrive ahead of the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference scheduled to hold in the coal city.
The week-long event, beginning on Monday, August 24, is expected to feature former President Olusegun Obasanjo and firebrand South African politician, Julius Malema.
In anticipation of the high-profile gathering, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, on Saturday led thousands of lawyers on a health walk across major streets in the capital city.
Speaking with newsmen, Osigwe described Enugu as a befitting host for the conference themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”
He said: “Enugu is the capital of the South East and the home of hospitality, beauty, and peace. That was why we chose Enugu State to host our conference after moving from Port Harcourt.
“We are here to enjoy the best that the people have to offer and also to have conversations about building Nigeria and making it an economic giant in Africa. Enugu is ready, and we are so excited.
“Our keynote speaker, Julius Malema, is already in Lagos and will arrive in Enugu on Sunday. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who will chair the opening ceremony, will also be on the ground tomorrow.
“We are going to make this a never-to-be-forgotten experience—one that will make you want to return to Enugu for every conference.”
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said Governor Peter Mbah’s administration had strategically prepared Enugu to host world-class conferences.
According to him, “The Enugu State Government under Dr. Peter Mbah, in its design and planning around tourism, hospitality, and economic growth, had already factored in the requirements for events of this magnitude.
“Even without the NBA’s plan to come, we had started preparing for the possibility of hosting not just the NBA, but also bodies like the Nigerian Society of Engineers and many others.”
