Former Ekiti Governor, Fayemi, Wants Best Minds Deployed To Gain International Pride

From left: Mr Clement Osuya, General Secretary of ILA Nigeria, Mrs Oludayo Olorunfemi, Vice President of ILA Nigeria, and Chair of the organizing committee, Professor M.T Ladan, DG of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN), President ILA Nigeria and Mr Tolu Aderemi, Chair of the Arbitration Committee of ILA Nigeria.

The Former governor of Ekiti State. Dr Kayoade Fayemi has insisted that for Nigeria to regain its place of pride in international diplomacy, it must parade the best minds at the international level.

Dr Fayemi gave the hint at the International Law Association (ILA) President’s Dinner and Award Night organized as part of the 7th Annual Law Conference of the Association held in Abuja. 

The former Ekiti governor expressed dissatisfaction over the prevailing absence of Ambassadors in key diplomatic posts and how this may significantly hinder ongoing steps by the government to attract foreign investment, including diaspora direct investments, which he noted are urgently needed to accelerate Nigeria’s path towards sustainable development. 

Speaking on his journey into public service and international diplomacy, Dr Fayemi posited that his passion for research and advocacy spurred in him a passionate desire to contribute his quota to national development.

The former Ekiti governor was honoured with the International Law Outstanding Achievement Medal by the International Law Association, Nigerian Branch. 

The conversation reflected upon the extraordinary career of Fayemi who rose from humble beginnings to receive a doctorate in international diplomacy from King’s College, London, become former governor of Ekiti State, former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), former Minister of Mines and Steel Development in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2018, and pioneer President of the Forum of Règions of Africa.

Similarly, the International Law Outstanding Achievement Medal (Academic Category) was presented to Professor Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. 

Professor Ladan, who was born in Kano, is a distinguished and globally regarded professor of comparative human rights, environmental law, energy and sustainable development law and practice, with more than 34 years of teaching, research and graduate and postgraduate supervision experience. 

The eminent professor has authored over 16 books; over 80 journal articles and over 100 national and international conference/seminar papers. 

He is a member of the IUCN Academy and Commission on Environmental Law, a Hubert Humphrey Fellow, USA and a Member, World Jurists Association, USA. 

The event had in attendance more than 100 participants both in person and online. 

Several dignitaries and leading international law experts attended the dinner ceremony, including the President of the Association, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN), the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, the Chairman, Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value, Federal House of Representative, Fatoba Olusola Steve, the Director-General of Ogun State’s Public Private Partnerships Agency, Dr Dapo Oduwole, members of the judiciary, and the Director of the Nigeria Country Office of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr Oluwatobiloba Moody among other dignitaries. 

“We are greatly inspired by their exemplary dedication to international law and diplomacy as well as their consistent track record of mentoring the next generation,” Olawuyi stated. 

The ILA was founded in Brussels in 1873. The ILA now has some 3,500 members in 45 national and regional branches around the world. It is headquartered in London under the leadership of Professor Christine Chinkin. 

ILA’s objective, under its constitution, is to promote the study, clarification and development of international law.

Membership of the ILA is open to anyone, including lawyers and non-lawyers, interested in international law. 

The Nigerian Branch of the ILA regularly hosts innovative lectures, seminars, conferences, and other capacity development programs to advance the study and understanding of international law in Nigeria. 

To learn more about the ILA, its activities, and events visit http://www.ila-hq.org

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