From Nigeria to the upper echelons of British academia, Dapo Akande’s journey is one of rare distinction. Widely hailed as the UK’s “finest legal mind”, the renowned professor has built a reputation for intellectual rigour and global impact, advising governments and contributing to landmark interpretations of international law.

Akande was elected to the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) in November 2021 for the 2023–2027 term, securing broad international backing. His nomination was jointly supported by the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Japan, Kenya and Slovenia.

Dominic Raab, then UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, endorsed his candidacy, describing Akande as ideally suited to strengthen Britain’s longstanding contribution to the commission’s work.

“The United Kingdom is pleased to nominate Professor Dapo Akande as our candidate for the International Law Commission for the period 2023–2027. The UK has always been a strong supporter of the International Law Commission and is proud of the contribution that British international lawyers have made to its work. I believe that Professor Akande is perfectly positioned to strengthen this contribution yet further,” Raab said at the time.

Raab described him as one of the finest legal scholars in the UK, citing more than 25 years of experience in international law.

“With over twenty-five years of legal experience, Professor Akande is exceptionally well qualified to serve as a member of the Commission. Not only is Professor Akande one of the finest legal scholars in the UK, he is also a world-renowned expert in public international law, both as an academic and as an independent practitioner.

“He originally qualified as a lawyer in Nigeria and is currently Professor of Public International Law at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. He serves on advisory and editorial boards of international law periodicals across Europe, America, Africa and Asia, and has authored more than 60 publications spanning a wide range of international legal issues.

“Professor Akande has acted as a consultant to international organisations, including the United Nations, the African Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the International Criminal Court, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Commonwealth Secretariat. As counsel or adviser, he has worked on international litigation before the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the World Trade Organisation, the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as on cases involving public international law in domestic courts.”

Who is Dapo Akande?

Dapo Akande is a distinguished legal scholar born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

He obtained his LLB from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and has since built an eminent career in public international law spanning more than two decades.

Akande began his legal career as a research assistant to Bola Ajibola (KBE SAN), a former Attorney-General of Nigeria and judge of the International Court of Justice. His expertise has taken him to some of the world’s most prominent judicial forums, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

In addition to representing Nigeria before international courts, Professor Akande has contributed to justice sector development in Nigeria, providing training for the Federal Director of Public Prosecutions and the Nigerian Army on complex crimes under Nigerian criminal law.

His career reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening international legal standards and advancing accountability on the global stage.