Osinbajo Urges Nigerian Lawyers to Prioritise Justice, Democracy and National Development

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has challenged Nigerian lawyers to move beyond the traditional interpretation of laws and take a more active role in promoting justice, strengthening democracy and driving national development.

Osinbajo made the call while delivering the keynote address at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development (NBA-SPIDEL), hosted by the Abia State Government in Umuahia.

The former Vice President stressed the need for people-centred public interest advocacy that places citizens’ welfare at the heart of legal practice and government accountability.

He identified access to justice, job creation, healthcare, education and the protection of vulnerable groups as critical areas lawyers should prioritise in their efforts to improve society.

According to him, the success of democracy should not be measured only by elections or government policies but by the positive impact of governance on ordinary citizens.

“The true measure of democracy lies not merely in the conduct of elections or formulation of government policies, but in its capacity to improve the living conditions of ordinary citizens,” Osinbajo said.

He warned that poverty, corruption, unemployment and declining public confidence in democratic institutions remain major obstacles to democratic development.

Osinbajo further argued that democracy must be assessed by how citizens experience governance and access justice, insisting that “a just society protects everyone.”

He also urged legal practitioners to embrace continuous learning and acquire additional skills in technology, negotiation, conflict resolution, institutional management and critical judgment. He specifically cautioned lawyers to ensure that information generated by artificial intelligence is properly verified before being relied upon.

Speaking at the conference, Abia State Governor Alex Otti called on lawyers to remain committed to delivering justice to Nigerians.

Otti also commended the judiciary for its contributions to national development, stressing that the institution must continue to serve as a source of hope for citizens seeking justice.