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Professor Adejoke Oyewunmi has officially assumed office as the new Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), succeeding Professor Abiola Sanni, SAN, whose two-year tenure came to an end on August 1, 2026.
Oyewunmi, the 20th Dean of the Faculty, also becomes only the third woman to occupy the position since the Faculty was established, following the tenures of Professors C. K. Agomo and Ayodele Atsenuwa.
Her appointment marks a new phase in the Faculty’s leadership as the institution seeks to consolidate recent gains in legal education, research, infrastructure development and international collaborations.
An accomplished scholar and administrator, Oyewunmi obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Obafemi Awolowo University before earning her postgraduate degrees at UNILAG, where she has built an academic career spanning more than three decades.
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost experts in Intellectual Property and Labour Law, she holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property from the Franklin Pierce Law Center, University of New Hampshire, United States, as well as a Ph.D. from Obafemi Awolowo University.
Her emergence follows the completion of Professor Sanni’s single two-year tenure, which the Faculty described as a period of purposeful and transformational leadership.
During his administration, the Faculty recorded significant progress in governance, academic development, research, infrastructure, staff and student welfare, internationalisation, alumni engagement and institutional partnerships.
Among the major achievements of the outgoing administration was the launch of the UNILAG–University of Dundee Dual LL.M. Programme, a collaboration designed to deepen international legal education and expand opportunities for students.
The Faculty also secured the prestigious Women in Legal Academia (WiLAC) Project, further strengthening its global academic profile and commitment to advancing legal scholarship.
Academic excellence remained a defining feature of the period. Two UNILAG students emerged winners of the 2026 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition after defeating teams from 214 leading law schools across the world. The victorious team was coached by Professor Oyewunmi alongside lecturers in the Faculty’s Intellectual Property unit.
The Faculty equally maintained an impressive performance at the Nigerian Law School, producing 43 First Class graduates in 2025 and another 34 in 2026, while continuing to excel in national and international advocacy competitions.
Beyond academics, the Faculty witnessed one of the most extensive infrastructure renewal programmes in its history.
Through fundraising efforts and strategic partnerships with alumni and other stakeholders, major learning and administrative facilities were renovated, while investments were made in digital and alternative energy infrastructure.
Other landmark projects initiated during the period include the installation of the Faculty Elevator, redevelopment of the Faculty Library and plans for the construction of a new Faculty building.
The administration also prioritised alumni engagement as a key driver of institutional development. This led to the adoption of the Constitution of the proposed Faculty of Law Alumni Association, inauguration of its General Assembly and plans to establish a professionally managed Alumni Relations and Advancement Office.
Faculty authorities noted that transparent governance, stronger collaboration with the legal profession, improved welfare for staff and students, and enhanced partnerships with alumni and the private sector further elevated the Faculty’s national and international standing.
As she assumes office, Oyewunmi is expected to build on the foundation laid by previous administrations while advancing the Faculty’s vision of excellence in legal education, cutting-edge research, innovation, international collaboration and public service.
The Faculty expressed confidence that the new Dean’s extensive academic experience, administrative expertise and contributions to legal scholarship would further strengthen its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading centres for legal education.
