President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, making her the first woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1962. The appointment, effective January 10, 2026, is for a four-year term, according to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Dr Odusote, 57, currently serves as Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus. She succeeds Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose eight-year tenure ends on January 9, 2026.
A distinguished legal scholar, Dr Odusote earned her LL.B and LL.M degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University, specialising in company and commercial law. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She later obtained a PhD in Law from the University of Surrey, UK, with research interests in public law and the administration of justice.
Since joining the Nigerian Law School in 2001 as a lecturer, Dr Odusote has held key leadership roles, including Head of the Academic Department, Director of Academics, and Head of Campus. She has also served as a visiting scholar at Nottingham Trent University in the UK.
Her academic contributions include numerous publications in reputable local and international law journals, as well as presentations at conferences on legal education. She has served on several committees of the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Bar Association, influencing policy and governance in the legal education sector.
As Director-General, Dr Odusote will oversee the Law School’s academic and administrative operations nationwide and act as the primary liaison with the Council of Legal Education, the Body of Benchers, and the Nigerian Bar Association.
Her appointment marks a significant milestone for gender inclusion in Nigeria’s legal profession and has been widely praised as a progressive step in the administration of legal education. Legal experts and academics view her leadership as a signal of continuity, academic excellence, and innovation for the institution.
Dr Odusote’s appointment is expected to inspire a new generation of women in law while reinforcing the Nigerian Law School’s role in producing competent legal practitioners and strengthening the country’s justice system.
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