The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced that former Liberian President George Weah will deliver the keynote address at its 2026 Annual General Conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday by the Chairman of the conference planning committee, Abdul Muhammed, SAN, and shared on the NBA’s official X handle.
According to Muhammed, the decision to invite Weah underscores the association’s determination to “elevate the quality of discourse and to deepen conversations on the issues to be explored in the context of this year’s theme: Beyond Limits.”
Weah, who served as Liberia’s president between 2018 and 2024, holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration from DeVry University in Miami, Florida, United States.
Before his political career, the former football star made history in 1995 by becoming the first—and so far only—African player to win the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year Award and African Footballer of the Year Award in the same year.
Highlighting his public service and humanitarian contributions, the statement read in parts, “Before entering partisan politics, George Weah had served as the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF from 1997. In 2004, he received the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award from ESPN for his work on behalf of children who were affected by conflict, disease and poverty.
“In recognition of his accomplishments in the fields of sports, humanity, peace-building, education and good governance, the pan-African statesman has also been awarded three honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters by the AME Zion University, Cuttington University and the University of Liberia.
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“One of his first actions in office was to reduce his salary and other benefits by 25% with immediate effect. His tenure witnessed improvements in the country’s infrastructure. He introduced policies to improve access to education, including making tuition free at public universities.
“In a rare demonstration of statesmanship, His Excellency Weah stepped down from the presidency in 2024 after a runoff election in which his closest rival polled 50.64% to his 49.36%. His decision not to challenge the outcome of the elections despite the razor-thin margin, and to relinquish power, cemented Weah’s reputation as a principled democrat, an honourable statesman, and a distinguished African who is a model of good governance.”
The NBA further described the former Liberian leader as “a symbol of hope, resilience and service,” noting that his achievements in sports and politics have continued to inspire young people around the world.
Muhammed also pointed to the significance of this year’s conference, saying it comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, which he described as a “pivotal moment in our nation’s economic and political evolution.”
The NBA’s 2025 Annual General Conference, held in Enugu State, featured South African opposition leader Julius Malema as keynote speaker, where he addressed participants on the theme, “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”