Nigeria Names First Female Law School Chief in 64 Years

For the first time since 1962, a woman will lead Nigeria's top legal training institution.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Professor Olugbemisola Odusote as Director General of the Nigerian Law School, ending more than six decades of male-only leadership. She takes the helm of the institution that trains every lawyer in Africa's most populous nation.

Odusote's path to this historic role spans over two decades of service. She joined the Law School as a lecturer in 2001 and steadily climbed through positions that shaped the institution's academic backbone.

Before her appointment, she served as Deputy Director General and led the busy Lagos campus. In those roles, she strengthened teaching standards and helped modernize how the school prepares future lawyers.

Her credentials match her experience. Odusote earned her law degree from Obafemi Awolowo University and joined the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She later completed a Master's in Company and Commercial Law and a PhD from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, focusing on public law and justice administration.

The Ripple Effect

Odusote's appointment sends waves far beyond one office. Young women studying law across Nigeria now see a clear path to the highest levels of legal education leadership.

The celebration among legal professionals reflects a broader shift. Nigeria's legal and educational sectors are expanding leadership spaces to reward talent and merit, not just tradition.

Her four-year tenure comes at a crucial time when law schools worldwide are rethinking how to prepare lawyers for rapid changes in technology and society. Odusote brings both institutional knowledge and fresh perspective to guide those updates.

Colleagues praise her reputation for discipline, progressive thinking, and academic excellence. Those qualities helped her rise from classroom teacher to campus head to national leader over 24 years.

The appointment proves that consistent excellence and dedication create opportunities that seemed impossible just decades ago, opening doors for the next generation to walk through.