International Law Association, Nigerian branch, has honoured former attorney general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Adebayo Ojo, with the inaugural International Law Achievement Award.
The award was presented at the president’s dinner and award night organised as part of the 6th annual law conference of the association in Lagos which 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, Damilola Olawuyi; Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Geneva, Switzerland, members of the judiciary, including the wife of the honouree, Folashade Ojo, of the Court of Appeal.
Others are Adedotun Ademola Onibokun of the Osun State High Court, Director of the Nigeria Country Office of WIPO, Oluwatobiloba Moody, and the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan.
The event featured a keynote conversation with the honouree, moderated by Joke Aliu, co-managing partner at Aluko and Oyebode.
The conversation session reflected upon the extraordinary career of Ojo, who rose from humble beginnings to become state counsel at the Ministry of Justice and subsequently a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, former AGF (2005-2007), notable arbitrator, president, African Arbitration Association 2007, and former member of the United Nations International Law Commission.
While speaking on his foray into international law, Ojo said his passion and interest in a career in international law began when he studied international law as a course in the university,.
and how this knowledge of international law contributed immensely to his success as the minister of justice and the country’s principal law officer.
While presenting the award on behalf of the branch, the President of ILA Nigeria, who also is the vice chair of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Damilola Olawuyi, said the exemplary record of dedication and service of Ojo, makes him a worthy recipient of the inaugural award.
