X-Raying Okey Leo Ohagba’s Unbeatable Track Record of Leadership Inclusivity, Welfare Advocacy, and Support for Young Lawyers

• By Emmanuel Udoyen
  — Chairman YLF, NBA Uyo Branch

Far from mere campaign rhetoric, Okey Leo Ohagba’s entire career reflects a deep commitment to the institutional inclusion, capacity development, and enhanced welfare of young lawyers. He firmly believes that young lawyers hold the future of the Bar. Moving beyond words, he consistently walks his talk outside of election cycles, backed by a clear and verifiable factsheet, to wit;

1. Constitutional Shield for Leadership Inclusivity Of Young Lawyers: At the 2021 NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) in Port Harcourt, Okey moved a decisive motion during the constitutional amendment session to save the office of the Assistant Publicity Secretary (APS), which had been slated for deletion. This motion successfully halted the removal of the APS office and legally reserved the position exclusively for young lawyers to guarantee their representation in NBA leadership.

This crucial motion was sustained by the then-NBA President, Olumide Akpata, ensuring that young lawyers’ inclusion was permanently codified into the NBA Constitution.

2. Guaranteed Branch Executive Committee Seats for the YLF: Building directly on his constitutional interventions, Okey Ohagba moved another decisive motion during that same 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) to ensure young lawyers’ inclusion at the Branch Executive Committee level.

This successful motion championed the historic constitutional amendment that grants all branch YLF Chairmen and Secretaries automatic seats on their local Branch Executive Committees, guaranteeing them a permanent institutional voice in local Bar administration.

3. Secretariat Transformation: Practical Leadership Growth As NBA-YLF National Secretary, Okey Ohagba translated structural vision into operational reality, modernizing how the forum serves its members:

• The First Digital Database: He pioneered a portal-based, comprehensive National database of young lawyers, fully digitizing the YLF portal for seamless networking.
• Rapid Nationwide Expansion: Alongside the 2012–2014 Council led by Paul Daudu, SAN, Okey spearheaded the drive to establish active YLF chapters across over 70% of NBA branches nationwide.
• Flawless Organizational Ability: He delivered highly impactful, career-focused YLF conference sessions at both the Calabar (2013) and Owerri (2014) AGCs.A Historic Summit: He chaired the 2013 YLF National Summit, widely adjudged as one of the most successful and impactful events in YLF history.

3. Welfare Advocacy via Tech Innovation at the CAC Okey understands that true welfare requires economic empowerment. Leveraging his regulatory platform to create direct economic opportunities for lawyers, especially young lawyers, while serving as the NBA Representative on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Board, he championed the maiden full digital automation of incorporation processes.

This E-Revolution eliminated outdated, analog delays in company registration, enabling young lawyers to transact remotely, process files faster, and retain client confidence.

5. Practical Welfare Support: Action, Not Rhetorics: Okey’s leadership is defined by practical empathy and a proven commitment to addressing immediate welfare concerns of lawyers. He gives a listening ear to all complaints.

• Crashed NBA-SPIDEL Conference Fees: As Chairman of the NBA-SPIDEL Conference Planning Committee (CPC) for the 2023 Ikeja Conference, he crashed registration fees to a flat rate of ₦5,000 for young lawyers, and pegged senior lawyers to as low as N10,000 respectively.
• Pioneered First-Ever Cash Rewards in NBA Sports Tournament: As Chair of the 2014 NBA-AGC TCCP Sports Sub-Committee, he introduced the first-ever cash prize rewards for NBA football tournament winners and runners-up, rewarding participation and offsetting branch tournament expenses.

A Tested Hand is a Trusted Hand

Okey Leo Ohagba’s commitment to young lawyers, technological innovation, and absolute inclusivity is not a new agenda—it is his documented lifestyle. He has lived it, built it, and delivered it. As General Secretary, he will do even more to elevate the young lawyers of the Bar.

THINK INNOVATION
THINK YOUNG LAWYERS INCLUSION
THINK CAPACITY BUILDING

VOTE OKEY LEO OHAGBA FOR NBA GENERAL SECRETARY

YOUNG LAWYERS YEARN FOR OKEY-IS-OK 💯

Sincerely,
Emmanuel Udoyen, Esq.
Chair Young Lawyers’ Forum
NBA UYO BRANCH