Lagos: A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Emeka Ozoani, on Friday urged Nigerian lawyers to adopt an effective stress management system to safeguard their mental health and wellness. Ozoani, who was the keynote speaker at the 2025 Welfare Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, said that stress poses a threat to the health and productivity of legal practitioners.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Conference was held to mark the 2025 World Mental Health Day. It had the theme ‘Thriving in Law: Winning Without Burnout’. World Mental Health Day is marked globally every Oct. 10, aiming to raise awareness about mental health around the world and to mobilize efforts to support those experiencing mental health challenges. This year’s theme is ‘Access to services – Mental Health in catastrophes and emergencies’.
Ozoani described the term ‘burnout’ as a hidden epidemic, which silently affects legal practitioners. He noted that the pressures of law practice have reached an unprecedented level, which obviously triggers stress. “The health of our justice system is inseparable from the health of those who sustain it. The theme of this conference invites us to redefine success in law, as true success must include peace of mind, integrity and balance,” he said.
The learned silk urged lawyers to adopt practical measures aimed at managing stress, such as setting personal boundaries, leveraging technology, taking rest, and building supportive mentorship networks. According to him, a lawyer who thrives sustainably, performs with purpose, not exhaustion.
Also speaking at the conference, a wellness coach, Mrs. Yetunde Adekoya, urged lawyers and leaders of organizations to create empathetic, humane, and balanced workplaces where performance and wellbeing could coexist. She emphasized that leadership, compassion, and the establishment of clear boundaries were essential to promoting mental health and sustainable productivity in workplaces.
“I have worked with kind and understanding bosses, and also with those who should not have been bosses at all; leadership plays a huge role in wellbeing. For those leading chambers and firms, it is important to demand results but also to respect boundaries,” she said.
Adekoya, however, cautioned against tolerating toxic environments, whether in workplaces, homes, or social circles, urging individuals to reclaim their sense of worth and optimism.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman of the NBA Ikeja branch, Mr. Adeniyi Quadri, said that the conference was part of efforts to promote mental wellness and collective growth within the association. “As we discuss the challenges confronting our profession, it is critical to focus on mental health and collective welfare,” he said. He added that the conference provided a platform for lawyers to share their experiences and explore innovative solutions that could enhance wellbeing.