George Weah Addresses Nigerian Bar Association Conference

George Weah, who served as the President of Liberia from 2018 to 2024, was the Guest Speaker at the 66th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, where he spoke on the theme, “Beyond Limits: The Bar, The Bench and The Building of Africa.” Weah, the only African to be named World Footballer of the Year, shared his life story, highlighting his rise from poverty in Liberia to international football fame and his subsequent political career. He recounted his first presidential bid in 2005, where he lost to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who became Africa’s first elected female president.

In the runoff election on November 8, 2005, Johnson Sirleaf received 59.4% of the votes against Weah’s 40.6%. Despite the support for Johnson Sirleaf from Olusegun Obasanjo and other leaders, Weah accepted the outcome gracefully and pursued his education, earning a degree in Political Science.

He later won the presidency in 2017 and, after not being re-elected, congratulated his opponent before the official results were announced.