Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and four other legal professionals have been conferred with the prestigious Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) title by the Nigerian Law Society (NLS).
The conferment took place at the society’s 2026 Annual General Conference, held under the theme, “Justice for All: Non-Litigation Nigerian Law Graduates Through the Blue Silks (SCN), BOSCON and the NLS.”
Other recipients of the honour include Seyi Tinubu, Olufunmilayo Osifuye, Ihudiebube Chukwumdi and Alabi Olalekan Adigun.
In his acceptance speech, delivered by his Special Adviser on Media and Executive Assistant, Mrs Lizzy Okoji, Fani-Kayode called for stronger protection of the rights and dignity of Nigerians, both at home and abroad.
He maintained that access to justice must be guaranteed to everyone, irrespective of social status, financial strength or political influence.
“Justice in its truest form must never be selective. It must not be reserved for the privileged, the powerful or the politically connected. It must be accessible to all,” he said.
Reflecting on his diplomatic assignment in South Africa, the former minister said his experience had further strengthened his commitment to human rights, particularly amid challenges faced by Nigerians living in the country.
He recalled that his first official engagement after arriving in South Africa was a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian community, where he listened to their concerns and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting citizens abroad.
According to him, promoting human rights requires courage, compassion, sacrifice and an uncompromising commitment to truth.
The President of the NLS, Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu, explained that the organisation was established to provide an organised professional platform for Nigerian law graduates working outside traditional courtroom litigation.
He identified corporate administration, legal consultancy, arbitration, mediation, compliance, governance, legislative drafting and research as some of the professional areas covered by the society.
Aliyu disclosed that the NLS was established alongside the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), with its certificate of registration obtained on December 30, 2025.
He said the initiative was founded in line with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees freedom of association.
On the Blue Silks initiative, the NLS president said the programme was designed to recognise professional excellence, dedication and outstanding contributions to the legal profession, while encouraging younger law graduates to embrace ethics and continuous professional development.
He listed institutional consolidation, membership expansion, continuing professional education, financial accountability and stronger local and international partnerships as key priorities of his administration.
Aliyu also urged members to uphold transparency, respect the society’s constitution and settle disagreements through dialogue and lawful dispute resolution channels.
In her keynote address, the Chairperson of BOSCON, Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Titilayo Orebiyi, represented by Mrs Ndidi Nicholas Okoro, stressed that legal practice and professional advancement extend beyond courtroom advocacy.
She highlighted the contributions of law graduates working in universities, corporate organisations, legislative institutions, regulatory agencies and policy development.
Orebiyi identified four categories under the Blue Silks initiative: Senior Legal Academic (SLA), Senior Corporate Counsel (SCC), Senior Legislative Counsel (SLC) and Senior Law Reform Counsel (SLRC).
She noted that the Senior Counsel designation should represent experience, competence, integrity, intellectual leadership and commitment to public service.
“A Senior Counsel should be a mentor, a custodian of professional values and an example to those who follow,” she said.
She further encouraged younger legal professionals to build expertise in emerging fields, including technology, artificial intelligence, commercial innovation, regulatory transformation, international transactions and alternative dispute resolution.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the NLS Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee, Olufunmilayo Osifuye, called for fairness and accountability in professional engagements and everyday relationships.
Osifuye, who heads the committee responsible for handling appeals relating to planning permits and building control in Lagos State, clarified that the NLS was not established to rival the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“We are not competitors to other arms of the legal profession, but complementary to their work because we serve the same goal,” she said.
The Public Relations Officer of the NLS Ogun State Branch also urged members to defend the rule of law, promote peaceful coexistence and uphold human dignity.
