London lawyer Seye Aina becomes first ever female British Nigeria Law Forum chairperson

DIASPORAN legal professional body the British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) has elected its first ever female chairperson when London lawyer Seye Aina was voted to head the association following its annual general meeting yesterday.

Ms Aina, a law graduate from the London College of Law also attended the University of Ife and Methodist Girls High School Lagos. A community activist, she also runs a non-governmental organisation called Paceworking Events, which looks after the needs of the less privileged in society.

Paceworking Events does a lot of work with those living with Downs' Syndrome in particular and Ms Aina also runs training seminars for corporate bodies. Yesterday, Ms Aina was elected to bring all this experience into the legal arena, taking over from the outgoing BNLF chairman Stephen Akinsanya.

Also yesterday, Babs Akinyanju was returned as the BNLF treasurer, while new committee members are Kash Balogun and Funmi Oyeneyin, while Rebecca Okoria was co-opted as the publicity officer. Being the only law body registered with the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk), the BNLF offers legal advice in terms of how to run the Nigerian community in the UK.

Ms Aina said: "BNLF is working on a number of key areas of law which include immigration and nationality, criminal justice, family, health, childcare, business, commercial and professional regulation. BNLF members will be sent information on all the discussions held at the AGM and plans for the year."

She added that the BNFL is also conducting a survey of its members as part of a wider drive to recruit more members. First founded in 2001, the BNLF is there to represent Nigerian lawyers in the UK and among its past chairmen are Babatunde Akinyaju.