MEET THE DIRECTOR
Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb.
Chancellor's Fellow and Director
Education
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Doctor of Philosophy in Law (DPhil), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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Master of Laws (LL.M), Harvard University, United States
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Master of Laws (LL.M), University of Calgary, Canada
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Bar Certificate (First Class Honours), Nigerian Law School, Abuja
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Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Nigeria
Professional Qualifications
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Barrister (Nigeria) (2006), Senior Advocate of Nigeria (2020)
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Barrister (Alberta) (2013)
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Barrister (Ontario) (2016)
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Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Professional Memberships
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Independent Expert, United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2022-present)
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Chair, Stakeholder Advisory Council (IRM), African Development Bank (2023-present)
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Global Vice Chair, International Law Association (2018-present)
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President, Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association (2023-present)
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Member, Academic Advisory Group, International Bar Association, Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL) (2018-present)
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Co-Chair, Africa Interest Group, American Society of International Law (2016-2019)
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Chairman, Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU) 2018-present
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Member, Legal Education Committee, Nigerian Bar Association (2020-present)
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Independent Expert, African Union’s Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa (2020-2022)
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Member, Governing Board, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Presidency, Federal Government of Nigeria (2021-present)
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Member, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) (2020-present)
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Member, Law Society of Alberta, Canada
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Member, Law Society of Ontario, Canada
Assistant
Name: Tosin Adewunmi
Email: info@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng
Media contact/public affairs: +234 81 40000 988
Detailed Biography
Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, is a Chancellor's Fellow and Director of the OGEES Institute, Afe Babalola University, Nigeria.
Prof. Olawuyi's areas of expertise cut across broad areas of global sustainability, specifically natural resources, energy and environment. He has published extensively on oil and gas law, climate change, and the intersections of human rights and environment. He has provided expert advice and opinion on seabed mining, electric power plant projects, carbon emission reduction and credit trading projects, including carbon capture and sequestration, energy efficiency and agricultural offset projects. He teaches courses on environmental law, climate change law, energy regulation, oil and gas law and international human rights law.
A prolific writer, Prof. Olawuyi has published several journal articles, and four books in natural resources, energy and environmental law. He has been an expert speaker and commentator at several international conferences. He serves on the executive committees and boards of the American Society of International Law (Co-Chair, Africa Interest Group), International Law Association, London, and the Environmental Law Center, Alberta, Canada. He is the President of the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy; Associate Fellow of the Center for Sustainable Development Law, Montreal; and a University Research Fellow at the Consortium for Peace Studies, University of Calgary.
He has lectured on energy and environmental law in over 40 countries including: Great Britain, France, Denmark, United States, Australia, Spain, China, India, Kenya, Qatar, Canada, United States and throughout Nigeria. He most recently received the BOK Visiting International Professorship, University of Pennsylvania, Herbert Smith Freehills Visiting Professorship at the University of Cambridge, UK and the IAS Vanguard Fellowship of the University of Birmingham. He has served as a visiting professor of law at the China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China, David Sive Scholar at Columbia Law School, New York, United States, and senior visiting research fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
A dual qualified lawyer, Prof. Olawuyi, SAN was formerly an international energy lawyer at the leading global law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, where he served on the firm's global committee on African extractive investments.
In recognition of his "substantial contribution to legal scholarship and jurisprudence," Professor Olawuyi was awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (Queen's Counsel equivalent) in the year 2020, aged thirty-seven, therefore becoming the youngest academic ever elevated to the rank of a senior advocate of Nigeria, and the very first graduate of a private university to become Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Courses/Current Research
Natural resources law and policy
Petroleum law
International environmental law
Climate change law and policy
Food and agricultural law
Business and human rights law
International Commercial Arbitration
Recent Media Appearances
Professor Olawuyi, SAN is a regular media commentator on all aspects of energy, environment and sustainable development law. See recent highlights here
COVID-19: Economic recovery plans must be underpinned by SDGs – says Professor Olawuyi (Vanguard News; Guardian News; Punch Newspaper; The Nation; EnviroNews, NigeriaLawyer News)
Prof. Olawuyi has called on the Nigerian government to investigate and address the importation of ultra-dirty 'refined' fuels to Nigeria. (Guardian Newspaper)
Don’t rejoice yet over $2.8b AKK Gas Pipeline Project’ -Socio-political challenges, climate change may undermine project, says Prof. Olawuyi (Guardian Newspaper)
"OPEC deal boosts struggling African economies" African Business Magazine, London (published December 02, 2016).
"OPEC is hurting the economies of Africa" African Business Magazine, London (published April 7, 2016).
“Nigerian oil sector: cutting down the middlemen” African Business Magazine, London (published October 22, 2015)
“Methodology, Theoretical Framework and Scholarly Significance” (The PUNCH Newspaper, June 1, 2015)
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Books
Damilola S. Olawuyi, José Juan González, Hanri Mostert, Milton Fernando Montoya, and Catherine Banet (eds), Net Zero and Natural Resources Law
(Oxford University Press, 2024)
Damilola Olawuyi, Environmental Law in Arab States (Oxford University Press, 2022)
Damilola Olawuyi (ed), Local Content and Sustainable Development in Global Energy Markets (Cambridge University Press, 2021)
Damilola Olawuyi (ed), Climate Change Law and Policy in the Middle East and North African Region (Routledge, 2021)
Damilola Olawuyi & Eduardo Pereira (eds.), Practical Considerations to Negotiate Enforceable Joint Operating Agreements in Civil Law Jurisdictions (Kluwer, 2020)
Damilola Olawuyi, Extractives Industry Law in Africa (Springer, 2018).
Damilola Olawuyi, The Human Rights Based Approach to Carbon Finance: (Cambridge University Press, 2016).
Damilola Olawuyi & Rhuks Ako (eds), Food and Agricultural Law (Afe Babalola University Press, 2015) pp 320.
Reviewed by Yemi Akinseye George SAN, FCIARB
Damilola Olawuyi, The Principles of Nigerian Environmental Law (Afe Babalola University Press, 2013) pp 350. Foreword by Aare Afe Babalola SAN, OFR, LLD, FNIALS, DLITT
Book Chapters
Damilola Olawuyi, "Advancing Innovations in Renewable Energy Technologies as Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Use in the Middle East: Trends, Limitations, and Ways Forward’ in Donald Zillman, Lee Godden, LeRoy Paddock, and Martha Roggenkamp (eds.) Innovation in Energy Law and Technology (Oxford University Press, 2018)
Damilola Olawuyi, 'Advancing Environmental Justice in a Post Brexit United Kingdom' in Oonagh Fitzgerald & Eva Lein, Complexity's Embrace: The International Law Implications of Brexit (McGill-Queens University Press, 2018)
Damilola Olawuyi, ‘Financing Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure in the Arab Region: Potentials and Limitations of Public-Private Partnership Contracts’ in Walter Leal Filho, Amr Abdel Meguid, Climate Change Adaptation in the Arab Region: Case Studies and Best Practice (Springer, 2017)
Damilola Olawuyi and Rhuks Ako, ‘Environmental Justice in Nigeria: Divergent Tales and Future Prospects’ in Holifield, R. B., Chakraborty, J., & Walker, G., eds. Handbook of Environmental Justice (Abingdon: Routledge, 2017).
Damilola Olawuyi, "Fostering Accountability in Large Scale Environmental Projects: Lessons from CDM and REDD+ Projects" in J Wouters, A Ninio, T Doherty and H Cisse (eds.), Improving Delivery in Development: The Role of Voice, Social Contract, and Accountability (Washington: The World Bank Legal Review 2015) chapter 5, 127-147
Ajibade I. and Damilola Olawuyi, "Climate Change Impacts on Housing and Property Rights in Nigeria and Panama: Toward a Rights-Based Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation". In: Dominic Stucker and Elena Lopez-Gunn (eds.) Adaptation to Climate Change through Water Resources Management: Capacity, Equity and Sustainability (New York: Routledge 2014) chapter 13, 264-284.
Damilola Olawuyi, "Beautifying Africa for the Clean Development Mechanism- Legal and Institutional Issues Considered" in Benjamin Richardson, Yves Le Bouthillier, Heather McLeod- Kilmurray & Stefan Wood (eds.), Climate Change Law and Developing Countries: Legal and Policy Challenges for the World Community (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009) chapter 11, 262-284.
International Reports
Damilola Olawuyi, Advancing Environmental Justice in Post-Brexit United Kingdom (Expert Report (published by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) and the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Waterloo, Canada) January, 2018.
Damilola Olawuyi, Local content and procurement requirements in oil and gas contracts: Regional trends in the Middle East and North Africa (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, University of Oxford) November, 2017.
Damilola Olawuyi, From Technology Transfer to Technology Absorption: How African Countries Can Do Much More to Realize Paris Climate Goals (Expert Report published by the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Waterloo, Canada) May, 2017.
Damilola Olawuyi, Current Developments in Carbon & Climate Law, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), (2017) Climate and Carbon Law Review
Sarah Mason-Case, Liliana del Villar, Damilola Olawuyi, and Benoit Mayer, Compendium of Legal Best Practices on Climate Change Policy (Italy: International Development Law Organization, 2011) 1-25.
Journal Articles
Damilola Olawuyi and Olaitan Olusegun, Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Biological Diversity in Nigeria: Current Issues and Future Directions (2018) 7 (1) Global Journal of Comparative Law (Brill) 37-60.
Mohammed E. Tok, Damilola Olawuyi and Cristina D’ Alessandro, Advancing Clean Technology Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North African (MENA) Region: Law, Education and Policy Imperatives (2018) 7 (1) Global Journal of Comparative Law (Brill) 115-133.
Damilola Olawuyi, "From Technology Transfer to Technology Absorption: Addressing Climate Technology Gaps in Africa" (2018) 36 (1) Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, DOI:10.1080/02646811.2017.1379667 ( Taylor & Francis)
Damilola Olawuyi, "Public Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Development in GCC Countries: Trends, Limitations and Ways Forward" (2017) 6:1 MENA Business Law Review (Lexis Nexis).
Damilola Olawuyi, "Climate justice and corporate responsibility: taking human rights seriously in climate actions and projects" (2016) 34 (1) Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law (Journal of the International Bar Association, Taylor and Francis) pp1-18
Damilola Olawuyi, 'Ontario’s Climate Change Mitigation and Low Carbon Economy Act: Pious Aspirations or New Dawn?'(2016) 16 (1) Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development (Columbia University, New York) pp. 29-37
Damilola Olawuyi, Book Review: Shawkat Alam, Sumudu Atapattu, Carmen G. Gonzalez and Jona Razzaque,International Environmental Law and the Global South, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2015, 623 (2016) 29 :2 Leiden Journal of International Law, pp 611-616 doi:10.1017/S0922156516000194
Damilola Olawuyi, 'The Increasing Relevance of Rights-Based Approaches to Resource Governance in Africa: Shifting from Regional Aspiration to Local Realization (2015) 11:2 McGill International Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (McGill Law School, Montreal, Canada) pp 293-338.
Damilola Olawuyi, "Proposal for a Climate Compensation Mechanism for Small Island States: Response to Maxine Burkett, 13 (1) Santa Clara Journal of Int'l L. 133 (2015).
Damilola Olawuyi, Constitutionalizing Environmental Rights in Nigeria: Reflections on the Question of Approach (2014) Nigerian National Human Rights Commission Journal (National Human RIghts Commision, Federal Government of Nigeria) pp 11-44.
OLAWUYI DS, "Recognizing the Intersections between Human Rights and the Environment in Legal Education and Training" (2014) Asian Journal of Legal Education (Sage Publishers) doi: 10.1177/2322005814530328, vol. 1 no. 2, 103-113
Damilola Olawuyi, 'Harmonizing International Trade and Climate Change Institutions: Legal and Theoretical Basis for Systemic Integration', Law and Development Review, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 107–129, DOI: 10.1515/ldr-2014-0023, September 2014
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Power Generation through Renewable Energy Sources: An Analysis of the Legal Barriers and Potentials in Nigeria' (2013) 5 (2) Journal of Resources, Energy and Development, The Energy and Resources Institute, India. DOI: 10.3233/RED-120106
OLAWUYI D.S and OLARINDE O, ‘Setting Sustainable Standards for Biofuel Projects : Legal and Institutional Imperatives’ (2013) 2(1) Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy, Afe Babalola University, Nigeria
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Aguan Biogas Project and the Government of the United Kingdom: Legal and International Human Rights Assessment' (2013) 4 (3) Queen Mary Law Journal, University of London.
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Legal and Sustainable Development Impacts of Major Oil Spills' (2012) 4(3) Consilience Journal of Sustainable Development, Columbia University, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7916/D8G160HQ
OLAWUYI DS, ‘Legal and Institutional Barriers to the Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies to Nigeria through the Clean Development Mechanism’ (2013) 3 (1) Journal of Environmental Law, Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos.
OLAWUYI DS, "Hydraulic Fracturing Technology and Shale Gas Production in Nigeria: Legal and Sustainability Assessment" (2014) 4 (2) Petroleum Technology Development Journal (PTDJ), Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria.
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Carbon Markets, Neo-liberalism and Human Rights: Towards a Win-Win Approach' (2013) 4 (2) Journal of Environmental Economics, Business Perspectives, Ukraine
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Mentally Disabled Persons and the Law: Where Lays the Haven under the Canadian Criminal Justice System?' (2012) 18 (3) Centerpiece, Alberta Civil Liberties Research Center, University of Calgary
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Towards a Transparent and Accountable Clean Development Mechanism: Legal and Institutional Imperatives' (2012) Nordic Environmental Law Journal, Uppsala University, Sweden
OLAWUYI, D.S,'Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in Kyoto's Post 2012 Commitments' (2010) Journal of Law, Environment and Development, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS)
OLAWUYI D.S, "Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa Through the Clean Development Mechanism: Legal and Institutional Issues Considered" (2009) African J. International and Comparative Law 270-301 (Edinburgh University Press) Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 270-301, ISSN 0954-8890,
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/E0954889009000401
Recent Speaking Engagements
Professor Olawuyi has presented at almost 100 conferences, seminars, colloquia and other events in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Recent highlights include:
June 08, 2018, London, United Kingdom: Invited panelist, "Energy subsidies and low carbon transition in the Middle East" at the BIICL WTO Conference 2018, British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JP
May 04, 2018, London, United Kingdom: Session Chair, "Brexit and International Environmental Law Panel" at the CIGI-BIICL conference themed Brainstorming the latest and greatest challenges of Brexit, held at the Goodenough House, Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2AB.
April 27, 2018, London, United Kingdom: Damilola Olawuyi, “Principle of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in International Law” at the International Law Association Conference on Sustainable Resources Management held at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
April 12, 2018, Lisbon, Portugal: Damilola Olawuyi, invited panelist, “Energy transition in Qatar and the Middle East: advancing renewable energy technologies as the alternative to fossil fuel use” International Law Colloquium, Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
April 09, 2018, Lisbon, Portugal: Damilola Olawuyi, invited panelist, “How technological and legal innovations are transforming energy law” Biennial conference of the Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL),International Bar Association, 8 - 11 April 2018, Intercontinental, Lisbon, Portugal.
April 05, 2018, Doha, Qatar:Session Chair and Panelist, “Climate Change and Energy Transitions in Qatar”, a public lecture featuring Mr. Abdulhadi Nasser Almarri, Director, Climate Change Department, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, at the College of Law and Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
April 04-05, 2018, Doha, Qatar: Chair of the Energy Experts Workshop, Public-Private Approaches for Financing Energy Infrastructure Projects,at Four Seasons Hotel, Doha, Qatar.
April 03, 2018, Kuwait City, Kuwait: Damilola Olawuyi, invited keynote speaker, on
“Local content and procurement requirements in Middle East and North Africa” at the Kuwait International Conference on Procurement, Hilton Kuwait Resort, Kuwait.
March 07, 2018, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States: Damilola Olawuyi (Guest Speaker), Climate Change, Human Rights and the Talanoa Dialogue, public lecture delivered at the University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
November 26-27, 2017, Doha, Qatar: Damilola Olawuyi, Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee and Chair of the Law and Policy Panel, Water Energy Food Nexus and a Low Carbon Future for Qatar, College of Law and Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
November 22, 2017, Doha, Qatar: Damilola Olawuyi, Chair, Energy Law Colloquium on Canadian Energy Development Law and Policies on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, College of Law and Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
November 09, 2017, Bonn, Germany: Damilola Olawuyi, Invited Expert, United Nations Climate Change and Human Rights Expert Meeting, organized by the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, at the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Bonn, Germany.
Damilola Olawuyi, 'Legal framework for investments in Nigeria’s agriculture and renewable energy sector', invited panelist, ‘Opportunity Nigeria’, a two-day seminar held on November 5 and 6, 2015, by the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce/ Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, in London.
Damilola Olawuyi, “Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Addressing the Missing Links in Nigeria’s Amnesty Program, guest lecture delivered on November 04, 2015, at the 2015 Montagu Baker Lecture Series, Oxford Center for Mission Studies, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Damilola Olawuyi, “ Renewable energy for power generation in Nigeria: legal and institutional issues” invited panelist, 2nd Annual Regional Conference of the Center for Petroleum, Energy, Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan, October 27-28, 2015.
Damilola Olawuyi and Rhuks Ako, “Methodology, Theoretical Framework and Scholarly Significance: A Review of International Best Practices in Legal Research”, paper presented on June 02, 2015 at the 48th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) held at the College of Law, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
Damilola Olawuyi, "Advancing Climate Justice in International Law: Evaluating the United Nations Human Rights Based Approach", a paper presented on March 26, 2015 at the 1st Annual Climate and Energy Justice Lecture, FAMU College of Law, Florida, United States of America.
OLAWUYI DS, "Legal Frameworks for Mitigating Social and Environmental Risks of Cross-Border Pipeline Developments in North America and Abroad", a paper presented at the 2015 Canadian Association of Environmental Law Societies (CAELS) Conference held on February 13 and 14, 2015 at the University of Calgary, Canada.
OLAWUYI DS, "Social and Environmental Risks in Cross-Border Pipeline Projects: Legal Framework for Sustainable Mitigation”, a paper presented at the 2014 Second International Environmental Law, Scientific and Practical Conference, themed “Eurasian Integration: Legal and Educational Aspects” at the Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia, on 3–5 of December 2014.
OLAWUYI DS, Commentaries on Maxine Burkett’s “Rehabilitation: A Proposal for a Compensation Mechanism For Small Island States”, presented on January 25, 2014 at the 2014 Santa Clara Journal of International Law Symposium, Santa Clara Law School, Santa Clara, California, United States.
OLAWUYI DS, “Carbon Markets, Neoliberalism and Environmental Sustainability: Towards a Win-Win Approach” A paper presented on November 02, 2013 at the 2020 Vision for Humanity and Global Security Conference, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
OLAWUYI DS and OLARINDE OS, “Setting Sustainable Standards for Biofuel Production: Legal and Institutional Imperatives” (A paper presented at the first European Union Environmental Law Forum (EELF) Conference held from 4-6 September 2013, at Groningen, Netherlands)
OLAWUYI DS, "Setting Sustainable Standards for Safety and Emergency Planning on Oil Platforms: Towards an International Framework" presented at the International Conference on Energy Transitions: Regulation of Energy Markets at the National, European and International levels (University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland).
OLAWUYI DS, "A Human Rights Based Approach to Climate Change: Legal and Institutional Perspectives" a paper presented at the ECOST Climate Change Working Group on Human Rights, Climate Change and Migration held at the University of Utretch, Netherlands
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Recognizing the Intersection between Human Rights and the Environment in Legal Education', A paper presented on the 29th March, 2010 at the Conference of the United Kingdom Council for Legal Education in Warwick, United Kingdom
OLAWUYI D.S, 'Legal and Institutional Barriers to the Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies to Developing Countries through the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism', presented on 12 May, 2010 at the Global Concerns Conference in Sønderborg, Denmark,
OLAWUYI D.S, 'An Overview of International Arrangements on Integrated Coastal Zone Management–Lessons and Suggestions for the Future' A paper presented at the Canadian Coastal Zone Conference 2008, in Vancouver, Canada
OLAWUYI D.S, 'The Right to Clean Environment under International Law- Defining the Scope and Content of an Emerging Right' A paper presented at the 4th International Conference of the Canadians Lawyers on International Human Rights, on the 19th February, 2008 at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Canada.
