Call for Nominations: ILA Anniversary Awards
Home About Leadership Updates Events Media Contact Membership Application Call for Nominations: ILA Merit Awards The International Law Association, Nigerian Branch calls for nominations for four categories of awards to international law practitioners and scholars that have demonstrated outstanding achievement, leadership, and distinction in international law. The awards will be presented at the 8th Annual Conference of the Branch on April 9-10, 2025 at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD). · Outstanding Achievement Medal Distinguished Service Award (ILA-NG members only) ILA Book Prize Emerging Star Award for an Outstanding Young Professional ILA Outstanding Achievement Medal The ILA Outstanding Achievement Medal is presented to a distinguished person of Nigerian or other nationality for outstanding life time contributions in the field of international law. Such contributions might include, but are not limited to service to an international or continental organization, a State, or an international court or tribunal; or to teaching, research, or scholarship in the field of international law. While candidates are reviewed comprehensively, factors considered may include consideration of an individual’s specific extraordinary service initiatives and/or sustained superior contributions to the field of international law over a number of years, as well as visionary and innovative leadership. Recipients of this annual award need not be current members of the Branch. Past Recipients The inaugural prize was presented in 2023 to Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, former Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria and former member of the International Law Commission. 2024: Dr. Kayode John Fayemi, CON, President, Forum of Règions of Africa (FORAF), Former Executive Governor of Ekiti State, and former Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum. 2024 (Academic Category): Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, PhD, Former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Member of the IUCN Academy and Commission on Environmental Law, Hubert Humphrey Fellow, USA and Member, World Jurists Association, USA. Distinguished Service Award The Distinguished Service Award will recognize Branch members that have made outstanding contributions to the Nigerian Branch over a period of time. Such contributions may include to the Executive Council, Committees, and/or the annual events of the Branch. In choosing the recipient, the Selection Committee may consider an individual’s specific extraordinary service initiatives and/or sustained superior contributions to the Branch over a number of years. Recipients of this annual award must be current members of the branch. ILA Book Prize The ILA Book Prize recognizes the best book of the Year on international law published by a Nigerian scholar. Eligible books must have been published within the calendar year of nomination or the preceding calendar year. For this year, eligible books must have been published within the last 24-month period ending on February 1, 2024. The subject matter of the book must fall into the broadly defined category of international law. Recipients of this annual award need not be current members of the Branch. Emerging Star Award for an Outstanding Young Professional The ILA Emerging Star Award for an Outstanding Young Professional who is under 40 years of age as of February 1, 2024. In selecting the recipient, the Committee will consider the nominee’s track record of outstanding and special achievements in international law (both public or private) and the potential for future leadership and excellence. Such evidence of achievement may include involvement of notable cases, arbitration, book or journal publications, advocacy or client service in the international public or private law; past and present involvement or leadership in professional organizations, including the ILA; contributions to mentoring or special initiatives; and involvement in the community through pro bono legal services relating to international law. Recipients of this annual award need not be current members of the Branch. The inaugural prize was presented in 2024 to Chijioke Ukomadu, Associate, Templars Law Firm, Lagos. Nominations Eligible candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by others. Such nominations should be in the form of a letter accompanied by a detailed CV outlining the specific award and how the candidate meets the award criteria. Nomination for the book award should provide full information about the book, including the name of publisher and year of publication. Nominations to: Chairperson of the Conference Organizing Committee: conference@ila-nigeria.org.ng Deadline: 07 March, 2025. Home About Leadership Updates Events Media Contact © All 2023 All rights reserved. ILA-Nigeria Privacy Policy Designed by Learnetric
At The UN General Assembly, ILA-Nigeria President, Calls For Just And Inclusive Energy Transition.
Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN), has called for increased international cooperation to ensure that ongoing global efforts to transition to low-carbon energy sources do not constrain progress on human rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. Professor Damilola Olawuyi made these remarks while presenting a report to world leaders at the ongoing 78th Session of the United Nations Generally Assembly in New York, United States. Themed “Extractive Sector, Just Transition and Human Rights,” the report considers how governments, businesses, investors and other stakeholders in the extractive sector can best design and implement just, inclusive, and human rights-based energy transition programs in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In response to the climate change emergency, several countries worldwide have announced energy transition and low carbon programs. While elaborating the need to ensure that such programs do not result in adverse human rights impacts in fragile and at-risk economies and societies, Olawuyi called on governments and businesses worldwide to seize the momentum of the ongoing energy transition to accelerate economic diversification and eco-entrepreneurship, especially upskilling and reskilling programs that generate new investments and jobs in clean technologies sector, such as hydrogen, electric vehicles and carbon capture and storage. According to him: “The energy transition cannot replicate or create new forms of human rights abuses, including unemployment, social exclusions, land grabs, poverty, energy insecurity and conflict risks. The energy transition drive must be just and inclusive and should leave no one behind. A just transition requires systemic changes that promote sustainable consumption patterns, foster equitable access to clean energy, and prioritize the well-being of both people and the planet with full regard to international human rights law and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.” In this regard, the report recommends that “developed countries should mobilize financial and technical resources to assist resource-dependent countries as part of a common global effort and international solidarity to keep the energy transition ambition on track.” Olawuyi also called on investors and businesses to align their business practices, policies, processes, governance structures and decisions with the goals of the Paris Agreement, most especially the requirement to ‘respect, promote and consider human rights when taking action to address climate change.’ He challenged all stakeholders to avoid greenwashing and misleading claims on energy transition programs through clear, credible, transparent, and accessible reporting. “Civil society and impacted communities, including Indigenous Peoples and human rights defenders, play a critical role in enabling businesses and investors to identify, prevent and address human rights risks.” said Olawuyi. As part of the visit, Professor Olawuyi also held high-level talks with the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in New York, Ms. Ligia Noronha, and other key stakeholders in government, business, civil society, and academia. (Source: United Nations; Nigerian Tribune; The Nation; Independent Nigeria; The NigeriaLawyer)
ILA Nigeria President Becomes UN Working Group Chair
President of ILA Nigeria, Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, SAN has emerged the Chairman of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Olawuyi, who represents Africa in the working group, took over from his Asia-Pacific counterpart on July 1. (Source: Guardian Newspaper; The Nation; The Sun Newspaper; Tribune Newspaper; Independent; The Nigeria Lawyer)
Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN emerges President of the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch)
Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN has become the President of the International Law Association (ILA) of the Nigerian Branch. The Learned Silk, who is an energy and environmental law expert, took over from the immediate past president, Professor Fidelis Oditah, KC, SAN. (More Information: Daily Independent; Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Lawyers, The Sun,The Nation; Channels TV, TVC News, MITV News) Read the full text of Professor Olawuyi’s Inaugural address as President (Full text) The full agenda for the 6th Annual Conference is available here
International Law Experts Call for Clear Regulations to Maximize the Value of New Technologies
Leading experts and stakeholders in international law have called for clear and comprehensive regulations to maximize the full value of modern technologies for the development of the economy and in a manner that respects and fulfils all international human rights. This recommendation was made at the 6th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association (ILA Nigeria). Themed, The Role of International Law in the Regulation of New Technologies, the event was held at the Lagos Arbitration Court and had in attendance more than 300 participants both in person and online. Several dignitaries and leading international law experts attended the conference, including the immediate past President of ILA Nigeria, Prof. Fidelis Oditah, KC, SAN, new President, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN, Former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, Chief Counsel of Tayo Oyetibo LP, Chief Tayo Oyetibo SAN, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Associate General Counsel of Meta, Kaelo Ajuluchukwu, and The Director, WIPO Office Nigeria, Dr. Tobi Moody. Others are the Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager at Google, Adewolu Adene, Head of Legal at the National Data Protection Bureau, Babatunde Bamigboye, Managing Partner of Aluko and Oyebode Law, Joke Aliu, and the Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo amongst others, who graced the occasion and delivered opening goodwill messages. The event was moderated by the award-winning legal journalist, Shola Soyele, who is Channels TV Judiciary Correspondent and Host of the Law Weekly. While delivering the distinguished keynote lecture, Dr. Edward Kwakwa, the Assistant Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva, Switzerland gave a powerful presentation on how countries and societies can harness modern technologies to advance sustainable development. He emphasized the need for stakeholders in international law, including ILA Nigeria, to collaboratively build capacity to holistically address ethical, efficiency, regulatory and other multidimensional questions posed by metaverse, big data, artificial intelligence and other new technologies. The conference also featured a debate session between students of the University of Lagos and Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), as well as panel discussions by leading practitioners on how multinational technology platforms can be effectively regulated. The highpoint of the conference was the swearing in of the new executives of the Association under the leadership of the new President, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN. A distinguished expert in energy and environmental law, Professor Olawuyi has authored several influential articles, books and reports on the role of international law in extractive resource governance. He has practiced and taught law in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Last year, he was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to represent Africa on the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. He also received the BOK Visiting International Professorship at the University of Pennsylvania United States and has served as visiting professor at Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham and Columbia universities. Other newly inaugurated EXCO members include Mrs. Oludayo Olorunfemi who will serve as Vice President, Clement Osuya (Secretary General), Alex Oche (Treasurer and Deputy Secretary General) and Jacob Sule (Media and Communications Officer). Also inaugurated to serve on the Executive Council are Tolulope Aderemi (Chair, Committee on Arbitration and ADR); Joke Aliu (Chair, Committee on Banking, Financial Institutions and International Monetary Law); Dr. Oyeniyi Abe (Chair, Committee on Business, Human Rights and Justice; Dr. Eghosa Ekhator (Chair, Committee on the Teaching of International Law and the SDGs); Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (Chair, Committee on International Law and New Technologies) and Joshua Daranijo (Chair, Young Members Committee). While reacting to his emergence as President, Professor Olawuyi, SAN thanked the immediate past President, Prof Fidelis Oditah, KC, SAN for his meritorious and outstanding service to the Association and promised to consolidate on the achievements of the previous EXCO. Professor Olawuyi said “It is an absolute privilege and honour to serve as the President of the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association. For several decades, the ILA has played pivotal roles in the development and understanding of public and private international law. The Nigerian Branch, which was inaugurated in 2014 has benefited immensely from the steady guidance and remarkable leadership of Professor Oditah, KC, SAN for which are infinitely grateful. I thank members of the Association for their confidence in me and I very much look forward to working with them to advance ILA’s important work of deepening international rule of law in Nigeria and across the world” Source: (Daily Independent; Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Lawyers, The Sun,The Nation; Channels TV, TVC News, MITV News)