Professor Yemi Oke of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law will deliver the Fifth (5th) Inaugural Lecture in the 2021/2022 Academic Session of the University of Lagos on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 by 4:00p.m. at the J. F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, FAS, will preside over the Lecture entitled: “An Answer’ In Search of A Question: A Pioneer’s Prognosis of the Nigerian Electricity Law”.
Members of the University community and the general public are cordially invited.
Professor Yemi Oke, a Professor of Energy/Electricity Law, pioneering specialist, and leading expert/scholar in Electricity Law in Africa was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. He attended Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Keesi, in Abeokuta, from September 1978 – June 1983 before he proceeded to the popular Baptist Boys’ High School (BBHS) for his post-primary education.
He obtained his LL.B from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria; B.L from the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. He also had his LL.M and Ph.D law degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School; York University, Canada. He specializes in ‘Electricity, Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law.
His practice interest also extends to Global Corporate Law and Commercial Litigation. He was at various times in the course of his legal career the ‘Best Performance Award Winner, Department of Public Law University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Best Performance Award Winner, Department of Private and Property Law and was also awarded several prizes in other law subjects in the same University.
For his LL.M he was awarded the prestigious ‘York University Scholarship for Academic Distinctions’ and ‘Peter W. Hogg Award’ (for exceptional students with demonstrable leadership potentials) at the Osgoode Hall Law School, Canada. He was also awarded the ‘Willard Z. Estey Fellowship for Research and Teaching Excellence’ among other scholarships/fellowships by the same school.
Professor Oke has extensive international consultancy services experience. He was also at various times counsel in leading law firms in Nigeria including Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers, Babalakin & Co, Olaniwun Ajayi and KPMG professional services.
In the course of his graduate studies, he also taught in York University and Ryerson University both in Ontario, Canada.
He has served the University of Lagos in various capacities that includes Acting Head, Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Member, High-Powered e-learning Committee (to design and work-out policy and scheme for e-learning in the post-COVID-19) for the University of Lagos (2020-date). Member, Center for Social Research and Advocacy Board, University of Lagos (2018-2020); Lead Editor, Journal of International Law and Diplomacy; Editor, Law Digest, African Law Journal and Magazine; Member, UNILAG Senate, representing the University of Lagos Congregation and several other notable Committees within the university.
The current Head of Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, teaches Electricity Law, Oil and Gas Law and Law of International Institutions at the undergraduate, Masters and PhD levels at the University of Lagos. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
Prof Oke has handled a number of high-profile litigation and arbitration for local and foreign entities in Nigeria and outside the country. He was a nominee of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) as a Justice of the Court of Appeal in 2017 when the idea of appointing bar-men to the bench was mooted same year. He has several times been shortlisted for the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and continues to pursue the rank.
Prof Oke is the author of 10 law books including monographs, and about 100 published foreign and local academic as well as professional articles in his areas of specialisation.
He is a High-Chief of Abeokuta, as Bada-Baamofin of Egbaland (by Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland).
Professor Oke is happily married with children.
