Culture, Elegance and Style Elevated as NBA Eti-Osa Branch Marks Yearly Dinner 2025

The 2025 Annual Dinner of the Nigerian Bar Association, Eti-Osa Branch, held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, lived up to its billing as a “Night of Nigerian Elegance”, with the celebration of “Law and Culture” in full display. The venue was the prestigious Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, and the array of guests included legal practitioners across all ages, from the Bench and the Bar. Retired Honourable Justice OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR of the Supreme Court was present, as was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi AFAM OSIGWE.  In between, there were several judges and magistrates, serving and retired, as well as leading advocates, including several Senior Advocates of Nigeria. True to its theme: “Night of Elegance, Networking and Entertainment”, the NBA Eti-Osa Branch dinner witnessed the showcasing of the beauty of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, as the banquet hall of the Naval Dockyard came alive with the brightly patterned and flamboyantly styled traditional attire adorned by the attendees.  There was the bold splattering of the Aso-Oke of various shades, embodying the opulence of the Yoruba culture, embroidered in Iro and Buba for women, and Agbada for men, as well as a sprinkling of Eshi Agu chieftaincy apparel showcasing class and prestige, in a pool of Caftan-wearing men. There were also a handful who stayed true to the tradition of the legal profession in their black suits with bowtie, as it's common with an informal gathering.  In his welcome address at the event, the Chairman of the NBA, Eti-Osa Branch, OLANREWAJU OBADINA, said the Yearly Dinner 2025 was symbolic for many reasons, especially that it marked the breaking of a jinx, as previous attempts to have such a gathering were thwarted by certain unforeseen circumstances.  On the choice of the theme: “Night of Elegance, Networking and Entertainment”, OLANREWAJU OBADINA is in recognition of the cultural and traditional expressions that give meaning to the people the law is meant to serve. “The Challenge before us is to ensure that the law and our cultural heritage do not stand in opposition, but work together to promote fairness, dignity and social harmony.” OBADINA charged fellow legal practitioners to join hands towards building a justice system that promotes and respect diversity, while upholding the universal principle of equity and constitutionalism.  On his part, DAPO AKINOSUN, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who delivered the Keynote Address for the 2025 Annual Law Dinner of the NBA, Eti-Osa Branch, underscored the place of tradition as the lifeblood of the legal profession. In a presentation titled: "The Bar in Tradition’s Embrace", DAPO AKINOSUN noted that amidst the “whirlwind of modernity”, the theme offered an opportunity to look backward in order to look forward. “The word embrace is a curious choice. An embrace can be a warm hug—a source of comfort, safety, and love. But an embrace, if too tight, can become suffocating—a chokehold that restricts movement and prevents breathing.”  AKINOSUN is of the opinion that to embrace tradition is not to reject progress, stressing that it means to “anchor innovation in principle”. Hence, he suggested that: • Virtual courts must maintain decorum. • Technology should enhance justice, not compromise it. • Mentorship must be institutionalized through structured programs. • Self-regulation must be firm, lest external forces dictate our standards. I have said we often blame judges for conflict judgements. What happens to the lawyer that takes the application to him?  The Keynote speaker reminded the participants about the need to celebrate their heritage, as they dine and toast to the wigs, the gowns, and the ‘As the Court Pleases’, with a resolve that "The Bar in Tradition’s Embrace" will be a partnership, not a prison.” There was also award presentation to several individuals who were recognised for thier contributions to the legal profession and direct impact on the NBA Eti-Osa Branch.