Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Bar Association has announced that His Excellency George Manneh Weah, the former President of the Republic of Liberia and the only African footballer to win the Ballon d'Or, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Annual General Conference of the NBA, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28, 2026. The announcement, made on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, by the Chairman of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee, Abdul Muhammed, SAN, underscores the association's commitment to elevating the quality of discourse at its flagship event, which this year carries the theme "Beyond Limits."
Weah, who served as Liberia's president from 2018 to 2024, brings a unique blend of experience in sports, governance, and humanitarian service to the conference. His tenure as president was marked by significant infrastructure improvements and policies to expand access to education, including making tuition free at public universities. In a rare display of statesmanship, Weah conceded defeat in the 2024 presidential runoff election despite a razor-thin margin of 49.36 per cent to 50.64 per cent, cementing his reputation as a principled democrat and a model of good governance in Africa. Before his political career, Weah served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1997 and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award from ESPN in 2004 for his work on behalf of children affected by conflict, disease, and poverty. In 1995, he made history by becoming the first and only African footballer to win the Ballon d'Or, the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, and the African Footballer of the Year Award in the same year.
The conference, which follows the resounding success of last year's event in Enugu where Julius Malema delivered the keynote address, is expected to attract thousands of legal practitioners from across Nigeria and the continent. According to the NBA, the theme "Beyond Limits" is a call to action for lawyers and other members of society to be part of finding solutions to Nigeria's pressing challenges, including socio-economic inequality, insecurity, and governance deficits. The association has assembled a diverse array of seasoned speakers to lead discussions and provide incisive insights as Nigeria prepares for its general elections in 2027.
The announcement of Weah as the keynote speaker has been hailed as a major coup for the NBA, reflecting the association's growing stature as a platform for critical national and continental discourse. As both a sportsman and politician, Weah continues to inspire millions of youths across the world as a symbol of hope, resilience, and service. His exceptional achievements are a reflection of the spirit of aspiring "Beyond Limits," making him a fitting choice to address the largest gathering of legal minds in Africa. The conference is poised to be a significant event that will serve as a reference point for many years, as the NBA continues to assert its role as a catalyst for justice, reform, and national development.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments