Nigeria Inducts Record 5,728 Lawyers, Cementing Africa’s Largest Bar

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian legal profession is celebrating a historic milestone as a record-breaking 5,728 new lawyers were inducted into the Nigerian Bar yesterday at the Body of Benchers Headquarters in Abuja. This unprecedented single call to bar, the largest in the nation’s history, solidifies Nigeria’s standing as home to Africa’s largest legal fraternity.

The induction ceremony, which commenced on July 8, 2025, and is set to conclude on July 10, 2025, saw the formal admission of successful candidates from the November 2024 Bar Final Examinations, alongside a few from earlier sessions. The prestigious event was jointly organized by the Body of Benchers and the Nigerian Law School, with significant support and engagement from the Nigerian Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Forum (NBA-YLF).

With this latest intake, the Nigerian Bar Association, already the continent’s largest professional legal body, further expands its ranks, which now boast over 140,000 lawyers across more than 125 active branches nationwide.

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The 2025 induction, themed “New Voices, New Perspectives,” underscores a renewed commitment to shaping the future of legal practice with a fresh generation of barristers and solicitors. NBA-YLF Chairman, Timothy Clement, commended the resilience and dedication demonstrated by the new lawyers, urging them to steadfastly uphold the rule of law and the highest ethical standards as they embark on their professional journeys.

The solemn ceremony also included poignant tributes to three aspiring lawyers who tragically passed away before the induction, serving as a powerful reminder of the rigorous challenges and sacrifices inherent in the demanding path to legal practice in Nigeria.

This landmark call to bar not only sets a new benchmark for legal education and professional development within Nigeria but also reinforces the country’s significant leadership role within Africa’s evolving legal landscape.