A senior lawyer, Mr Usman Sule (SAN) has said that women need to be professionally minded and diligent to advance in legal practice.

Sule urged women to continue to work to make the legal system more inclusive and equitable.

He said women lawyers are breaking barriers and setting new standards of the profession, describing them as a testament to the growing influence and enduring impact of women in Nigeria’s legal profession.

Sule stated this at the yearly general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF) dinner in Lagos.

He described Nigerian female lawyers as standard-setters and trailblazers.

The former Welfare Secretary of the NBA who chaired the dinner forum, said it was not only a celebration of the Forum’s achievements but also a powerful affirmation of the roles women continue to play in shaping Nigeria’s legal landscape.

He applauded the forum for organising an impactful and relevant gathering.

He described women lawyers as “thought leaders, standard-setters, and trailblazers whose strength, intellect, and resolve were on full display throughout the conference.”

His words: “Women lawyers in Nigeria are not merely participants in our legal system, they are leading, breaking barriers, and setting new standards of excellence.”

The senior lawyer said there is no limit to what women can achieve, making references to global female leaders such as Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Almudena Arpón de Mendivil Aldama.

He noted that their journeys echo the path of many Nigerian women lawyers who have continued to rise to senior positions and inspire future generations.

The advancement of women in the legal profession, he said, is not solely for their benefit, but will enthrone justice, professionalism and national development.

“The Bar is stronger when it is inclusive. The law is more just when every voice is heard.

“The entire conference and dinner were one of pride and celebration, as the forum marked the successful closing of a conference that sparked meaningful dialogue, built professional networks and set an agenda for the future,” he said.

He, however, congratulated the organisers for their dedication and excellence.

“You have shown that women lawyers in Nigeria are a force to be reckoned with,” he said.

He therefore admonished them to carry the spirit of the conference into their respective chambers, courtrooms, and communities.

He encouraged them to continue efforts to make the legal system more inclusive and applauded the NBAWF leadership for a successful conference.