History has officially been made in Nigeria’s legal education system.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, marking the first time a woman will lead the institution since its establishment in 1962.
The announcement was confirmed on 6 January 2026 in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Dr Odusote will assume office on 10 January 2026, succeeding Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose eight-year tenure concludes a day earlier.
At 54, Dr Odusote steps into the role with decades of institutional knowledge and leadership experience. She currently serves as Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus, one of the Law School’s most influential training centres. Her appointment signals both continuity and change — a historic shift backed by deep familiarity with the system she is now set to lead.
Her academic journey began at Obafemi Awolowo University, where she earned her LL.B. before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She later completed her LL.M. at the same institution, specialising in company and commercial law, before obtaining a PhD in Law from the University of Surrey, UK, with a focus on public law and the administration of justice.
Since joining the Nigerian Law School as a lecturer in 2001, Dr Odusote has steadily risen through the ranks, holding key positions including Head of the Academic Department and Director of Academics. She has also expanded her academic footprint internationally, serving as a visiting scholar at Nottingham Trent University.
Beyond her teaching and administrative roles, she has remained actively involved in shaping Nigeria’s legal profession through long-standing contributions to the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Bar Association.
As Director-General, Dr Odusote will oversee the academic direction and strategic management of all Nigerian Law School campuses nationwide, while also serving as the principal liaison between the institution and the Body of Benchers.
