By Johnson Adebowale

An international law expert and the deputy vice-chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, has been awarded a top prize in academic publishing by the American Society of International Law (ASIL).

Olawuyi, who is also vice-chairman of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, received the prestigious ASIL certificate of merit for high technical craftsmanship and utility to practicing lawyers and scholars for his book, Environmental Law in Arab States. ASIL is the world’s most prestigious learned society in international law, and the certificate of merit award is the highest honor for an academic scholarship.

Some of the recent recipients of the award include Amal Clooney (Columbia Law School), Dame Rosalyn Higgins (International Court of Justice), Philippa Webb (King’s College) and Lavanya Rajamani (Oxford), among other eminent international law experts. 

Olawuyi’s award-winning book is the very first authoritative book on the essential features of environmental law and regulation in the oil- and gas-rich Arab region. The 400-page book outlines how international and regional instruments on environmental law are applied across the 22 countries of the region. He has authored several influential articles, books and reports on energy, the environment and sustainable resource governance. He practiced and taught law in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In 2022, Olawuyi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to represent Africa on the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights for a six-year term.

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Last year, he also received the BOK Visiting International Professorship (VIP) at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, United States and has served as a visiting professor at Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia and Birmingham universities, among others. While commending the award-winning book, the ASIL awards committee said: “The book does a remarkable job demonstrating in precise detail the scope and depth of an understudied yet vitally important area of international law: the application of environmental law in nations that hold and produce the majority of the world’s oil.

“The volume’s thoughtful structure nimbly balances its thoroughness and precision, analyzing its topic with remarkable granularity while remaining eminently readable. This systematic, comprehensive, and insightful book exhibits high technical craftsmanship and offers exceptional utility to practicing lawyers and scholars.”

Olawuyi received the award on March 31 at the ASIL’s Assembly in Washington, DC, as part of the society’s annual meeting, which brings together more than 1,200 scholars and practitioners of international law from around the world.

After receiving the award, Olawuyi said: “It is an absolute honor to receive this book prize from the American Society of International Law. This is an award that has been in place since 1952, and over the years I have seen it received by some of the most distinguished scholars who have shaped my own interest in the field of international law.

“For my book to be found worthy of recognition and mention in this elite category of legal scholars is indeed a special moment.

“I dedicate the award to my family, friends and mentors who have supported me in pursuing my passion in the field of international law and I look forward to our further collaborations.”