…Enugu is set, home of hospitality, love, peace — NBA President Osigwe
…Gov Mbah prepared Enugu ahead — SSG Onyia
Enugu, the Coal City and capital of the old Eastern Region, has come alive as over 20,000 lawyers, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and South Africa’s firebrand politician, Julius Malema, converge for the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The week-long event, with the theme “Stand Out, Stand Tall,” formally opens on Sunday at the newly revamped Enugu International Conference Centre.
On Saturday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, led thousands of lawyers on a health walk across major roads in the city, even as more guests continued to troop in from across Nigeria and abroad.
Speaking to journalists, Osigwe described Enugu as the perfect host for the conference.
“Enugu is the capital of the South East region and also the home of hospitality, beauty, and peace. That was why we chose Enugu State to host our conference after moving from Port Harcourt,” he said.
*“So, we are here in Enugu to enjoy the best that the people have to offer and also have a conversation about building Nigeria and making it an economic giant in Africa. Enugu is set, we are so excited.
Our keynote speaker, Julius Malema, is on the ground in Lagos and will touch down here tomorrow (Sunday). Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president 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, the type that will make you want to come back every time for a conference in Enugu.”*
The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, assured participants of a memorable stay, stressing that Governor Peter Mbah had prepared the state ahead of such high-profile gatherings.
“The Enugu State Government under Dr. Peter Mbah, in its design and thinking around tourism, hospitality, and economic growth, had already factored in most of what you are seeing in preparation right now,” he explained.
“Even without the NBA’s plan to come, we had already started planning what would happen if the NBA came here, if the Nigerian Society of Engineers came here, or others. Not too long ago, Enugu Air was commissioned; our 100 CNG buses and five modern transport terminals were launched. The reconstructed and revamped Hotel Presidential was also unveiled, just to name a few. We want to ensure that when people come here, they move around easily, feel safe, and even love to live here. We are grateful to the NBA for choosing Enugu and believe they will have a memorable experience.”
Lawyers arriving in Enugu have also shared their excitement about the transformation of the city.
Barr. Favour Abraham from Minna, Niger State, who last attended the NBA conference in Enugu in 2005, was full of praise for the hospitality.
*“This is my second time in Enugu, 20 years after. Today, it is a beautiful city. At least from the airport, we had Enugu State CNG buses actually waiting for us. The people here are hospitable. I can say Igbo people are very warm and welcoming. Enugu has changed, and it is a beautiful city.
We are here to explore, attend our conference, gain more skills and knowledge, and then enjoy Enugu to the fullest. We have beautiful things like okpa, isiewu, abacha and more. Coming from the North, we would love to explore the city.”*
For Daisy Ovrawah from Delta State, a first-time visitor, the experience was already exceeding expectations.
“I like the airport, the town, and the CNG bus that brought us from the airport to the International Conference Centre. It was very convenient. I love the ICC. This is very beautiful. I am impressed; I like what I am seeing.”
Another participant, Barr. Godswill Onyegbu from Abuja, said he anticipated a highly coordinated gathering.
“We just got to the conference and the NBA bus brought us to the venue. I commend the governor for the CNG bus. Also, on our way, I could see that Enugu was very clean.”
Hon. Munirat Suleiman, Magistrate of the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja, praised the seamless registration process.
“Having attended several NBA conferences that had a lot of glitches, with problems collecting materials and registering, I am impressed that this Enugu experience has been stress-free. So far, so good, and I am enjoying the beautiful city of Enugu, the Coal City.”
Similarly, Highness Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi from Ekiti, who was last in Enugu in 2001 for the Oputa Panel, said:
“Since I came here last night, I think I am highly impressed by what I have seen so far.”
