Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson has raised concerns about the challenges facing women in Nigeria’s legal profession, stressing the need for structural reforms to ensure fairness and inclusivity.
According to her, in an interview with SolaceBase, in Kano, female lawyers continue to face unequal access to opportunities, unconscious bias, and limited visibility in high-profile cases, despite their growing presence in the profession.
Professor Dada-Lawanson, a candidate for the NBA national leadership, added that workplace cultures often fail to accommodate the realities of women balancing professional and family responsibilities.
“Too often, women’s brilliance is overshadowed by stereotypes. My response would be a threefold strategy—policy, mentorship, and culture,” she said.
Dada-Lawanson explained that gender-sensitive policies are necessary to ensure a fairer distribution of briefs and opportunities.
She also emphasized the importance of structured mentorship and sponsorship frameworks that connect younger female lawyers with established practitioners.
Beyond policy and mentorship, she argued that there must be deliberate efforts to challenge cultural biases within the Bar and shift towards genuine meritocracy.
“The aim is not special treatment for women, but equal ground for everyone to thrive,” she said.
While highlighting women’s struggles, she also pointed to broader issues within the legal profession, including digital disruption, declining trust in institutions, and the urgent need for justice sector reform.
She emphasised that inclusivity must encompass all aspects, including gender, regions, practice areas, and generations, among others.
For Professor Dada-Lawanson, fairness and equity are the hallmarks of true professional leadership.
“My leadership will belong to all members of the NBA, male and female alike, grounded in the principles of justice that bind us as a profession,” she added.
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