Biography
I am passionate researcher and professional in environmental governance, sustainability and law.
My PhD studies, which is an independent research project, takes an interdisciplinary approach in investigating the role of law in the transboundary water development. Initially funded by Fondation Ernest et Lucie Schmidheiny, in 2018 the Project was awarded the prestigious SNF Doc.Mobility. The grant funds my research stay and research activities at University of Cambridge’s Centre for Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Governance (C-EERNG). Parallel with my PhD Studies, I have garnered extensive professional experience working with international organisations on issues of general human right to water, trade in water (and energy resources) and sustainable development.
In 2015, I successfully completed LL.M studies at the Graduate Institute of International and development Studies (IHEID) Geneva, within the special stream on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance (EERNG). My LL.M thesis analyses the extraterritorial liability of multinational corporations, using the energy case of Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum. As part of my LLM Studies, I also worked with a team on a research project on how international courts deal with the burden of proof on environmental matters. The outcome of the research project has been published at the Journal of International Dispute Settlement (JIDS).
I have got a bachelor of laws degree from University of Ibadan and wrote my thesis on the legal framework for the regulation of pollution in the Nigeria Petroleum Sector. I represented the university in the 2011 Negotiation Competition on Access to food. The research output for the competition, which is published in the Copenhagen Law Journal, addresses issues of food production and trade in developing countries. I am also a qualified lawyer in Nigeria and have had a stint in legal practice in topmost law firms in Nigeria. As one of the highlights of my legal practice, I supported the legal team representing Malabu Oil and Gas Company in its dispute concerning Oil Block 245 between the Nigeria government and Shell/AGIP Companies.
