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By Daniel Adaji
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Olugbemisola Odusote as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, making her the first woman to head the institution since its establishment in 1962.
The appointment, announced in a statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, takes effect from January 10, 2026, and is for a four-year term.
According to the statement, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the director-general of the Nigerian Law School.” It added that “the appointment takes effect on January 10, 2026, for a four-year term.”
Odusote, 54, is currently the Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School. She will succeed Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose tenure ends on January 9, 2026, after eight years in office. The statement noted that “she will become the first woman to lead the institution since its establishment in 1962,” while Chiroma’s tenure “expires on January 9, 2026, after eight years of service.”
On her academic background, the Presidency said Odusote obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. “She holds an LL.M from the same university, specialising in company and commercial law,” the statement said, adding that “she later obtained a PhD in Law from the University of Surrey, in the United Kingdom, with research interests in Public Law and the administration of justice.”
Odusote joined the Nigerian Law School in 2001 as a lecturer and has since held several key positions within the institution. According to the release, “she has served in various capacities, including as head of the academic department, director of academics, and head of campus.”
She also had international academic exposure, having been “a visiting scholar at Nottingham Trent University in the UK for a short time.”
The statement further highlighted her scholarly contributions, noting that “Odusote has published extensively in reputable local and international law journals and has presented papers at numerous legal education conferences.” It added that she “also served on committees of the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Bar Association.”
As Director-General, Odusote will oversee the Nigerian Law School’s academic and administrative affairs nationwide. The Presidency said, “as Director-General, Odusote will be responsible for the institution’s overall academic leadership, administrative management, and strategic direction across all campuses.”
She will also act as “the primary liaison between the school, the Council of Legal Education, the Body of Benchers, and the Nigerian Bar Association.”o