Nigeria and UK’s joint candidate for the International Law Commission visits Abuja
Professor Dapo Akande, Nigeria and the UK’s joint candidate for the International Law Commission, visited Abuja on 1 and 2 July 2021.
Professor Akande held a series of meetings, including with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His unprecedented joint nomination by Nigeria, Kenya, Japan, Slovenia and the UK, underscores the breadth of experience that he offers.
As well as being one of the UK’s finest legal minds, we have formally nominated him together alongside Nigeria. Professor Akande was born in Nigeria where he first qualified as a barrister. For a Western European and Others Group (WEOG) candidate he has a unique breadth of perspective and expertise in Africa that will make a significant contribution to the work of the International Legal Commission.
Professor Akande has shaped views on international law in Africa, as a member of editorial or advisory boards such as of the African Association of International Law, and the Nigerian and Ethiopian Yearbooks of International Law, and through his work as a consultant to the African Union, and the Commonwealth.
Professor Akande has acted as a counsel/advocate for several African states at the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, as well as advising their national governments. He has also organised legal training for the Nigerian Army and Public Prosecutor’s Office, and for government officials/judges in Sudan.
During the visit, Professor Akande said:
I am very grateful for the enthusiastic support I have received since I announced my candidacy and I welcome backing from all countries. Given the important role the ILC plays in the development of international law, it will be a great privilege to be able to offer my perspective, experience and expertise to make what I hope will be a significant contribution to the work of the International Law Commission.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing said:
It is an honour and privilege to host Professor Dapo Akande in Abuja today. He is an outstanding scholar and lawyer and it is wonderful that the UK and Nigeria are jointly nominating him for a position on the International Law Commission. This further demonstrates the strength of our partnership and our people-people ties.
Ambassador Adamu Onoze Shuaibu on behalf of Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeamea, said:
It is pertinent to disclose that the Nigerian Government is working assiduously and has embarked on a rigorous campaign for the support of our co-nominee, Professor Dapo Akande, through our diplomatic missions across the globe. I also extend Nigeria’s appreciation to the British Government for its altruism in availing a veritable platform to co-nominate an eminent academic and astute legal practitioner.
Further information
Professor Dapo Akande
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as well as being one of the UK’s finest legal minds, Professor Akande was born and first qualified as a barrister in Nigeria. Nigeria has formally nominated him alongside the UK, Kenya, Slovenia and Japan. He has a unique breadth of perspective and expertise in Africa that will make a significant contribution to the work of the ILC
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Professor Akande has acted as a counsel/advocate for several African states at the ICJ and ITLOS, as well as advising their national governments. He has also organised legal training for the Nigerian Army and Public Prosecutor’s Office, and for government officials/judges in Sudan
The International Law Commission
- the ILC considers areas of international law and suggests clarification, codification or improvement
- the ILC consists of 34 members, drawn from the UN regional groups. It shapes international law through its influential reports and proposals, and its recommendations often relate to issues of importance to the development of the law