The 2025 African Bar Association (AfBA) Annual Conference will open in Accra, Ghana, with a thought-provoking Women Forum session titled “Foreign Aid and African Dependency: Reimagining Empowerment.”
The session marks the first in a series of high-level discussions under the overarching conference theme, “Foreign Interests in Africa – Exploitation or Investment,” scheduled to run from October 19 to 23, 2025.
Organised by the AfBA Women Forum, the session will examine how foreign aid has shaped Africa’s development trajectory, questioning whether it fosters genuine empowerment or deepens dependency. The conversation aims to challenge traditional narratives around aid and investment, urging African nations to rethink strategies for sustainable growth, self-reliance, and inclusive empowerment.
The session will be chaired by Associate Professor Ben Uruchi Odoh, and will feature Judge Miatta Maria Samba as the keynote speaker. Her keynote address will set the tone for the discussions, offering insights into the dynamics of foreign aid, sovereignty, and the future of African-led development.
Following her presentation, a distinguished panel of discussants:
- Michelle Oliel
- Dr. Chinyere Aja
- Chief Sammie Abiye Somiari, SAN
- Adv. Mpakwana Annastacia Mthembu and
- Dr. Emma M. Osong; will analyse and expand on the key points raised in her paper, drawing from their diverse professional experiences in law, governance, and international development.
Prof Ben Uruchi Odoh
Prof Ben Uruchi Odoh is the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A seasoned legal expert, he chairs the Body of States Attorneys General and is a member of the Nigerian Body of Benchers. He serves as Director of the Legal Clinic and a Lecturer at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, specializing in Forensic Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators and the Institute of Corporate Administration; and a member of the Nigerian Forensic Society and other professional bodies. He presides over the Ebonyi State Prerogative of Mercy Council and Justice Sector Reforms Team; and is a United Nations Peace Ambassador.
Judge Miatta Maria Samba
A judge of the International Criminal Court, Judge Miatta Maria Samba served as a senior judge in the judiciary of Sierra Leone, most recently as Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone (2021) and before that as Judge of the Court of Appeals (2019-) and Judge of the High Court (2015-2019), adjudicating complex criminal cases, particularly having to do with corruption, theft and sexual violence. She earlier led the prosecution of high-profile cases in the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, as well as represented, on a pro-bono basis, victims of sexual offences, particularly cases involving minors. Judge Samba is Chair of the Legal Aid Board in Sierra Leone, which regulates the provision of legal representation for indigent persons. She lectured Criminal Law at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
Michelle Oliel
Michelle Oliel is an international human rights lawyer and child protection specialist. Michelle currently leads the Lori E. Talsky Centre for Human Rights at Michigan State University College of Law, where she teaches international criminal law and children’s rights, and leads global research and experiential learning programmes. She is the Executive Director of the Stahili Foundation, which supports Kenya’s care reform and child protection system strengthening efforts. Michelle has also served as a legal adviser and consultant to several CSOs as well as international and regional bodies, including by providing support to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. She is admitted to the Bar of Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Chinyere Aja
Dr. Chinyere Aja is an obstetrician and a gynaecologist with over 20 years of experience. She is a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for maternal and fetal health. She has experience in antenatal care, patient education, surgeries, and clinical coordination. She is committed to improving women’s health outcomes and reducing maternal mortality.
Chief Sammie Abiye Somiari, SAN
Sammie Abiye Somiari, SAN, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999 and appointed a Notary Public in 2009. He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2021. A seasoned legal practitioner with strong academic and professional grounding, he has a particular focus on Oil and Gas Law. He is a member of the Nigerian Body of Benchers and has held several leadership roles. He was appointed as a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre and a member of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
Advocate Mpakwana Annastacia Mthembu
Mpakwana Mthembu is the Chair of the Department of Mercantile Law, in the College of Law at University of South Africa (UNISA). She has taught Corporate Law, Banking Law, Contract law, Social Welfare Law, Origins and Foundations of South African Law. She is a former holder of NRF Thuthuka grant, SANPAD grant, MDSP grant and Attorney’s Fidelity Fund bursary. She has served at UNISA Bargaining Forum (UBF) representing the employer. As a member of UNISARF Employer trustee, she dealt with pension distributions, and investments, and provided legal advice on pension matters. She has presented numerous papers in conferences nationally and internationally on Banking Law, Company Law, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Online cybercrimes against women and children.
She has organised several conferences including amongst others, African Bar Association (AFBA ) conference August 2023.
Dr. Emma M. Osong
Dr. Emma Osong is an aerospace engineer and prominent advocate for human rights and conflict resolution in Africa. As founder and Executive Director of the Advocacy Network for Justice & Peace (ANJP), she leads efforts to address the root causes of conflict and promote accountability, especially in the Southern Cameroons crisis. Dr. Osong collaborates with local and international organizations, actively participates in the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and engages in initiatives tackling conflict-related sexual violence. She authored UNRAVELED: A Personal Journey into Conflict, War, and Diplomacy, intertwining her personal story and the struggles of Southern Cameroons, highlighting resilience amid adversity. Dr. Osong continues to work with grassroots groups and the global community to advance victim-centered justice and sustainable peace in her ancestral homeland.
Together, they will explore critical questions: Is foreign aid truly a tool for empowerment, or a subtle mechanism of control? Can Africa redefine the terms of engagement to ensure partnerships that build capacity rather than dependency?
The Women Forum aims to inspire new perspectives and actionable pathways that strengthen the continent’s economic and social independence while advancing gender-inclusive development.
