Tinubu Breaks 64-Year-Old Barrier, Appoints Olugbemisola Odusote First Female DG The Nigerian Law School

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

In an unprecedented move that marks a historic milestone in Nigerian legal education and gender-inclusive leadership, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that Odusote's appointment was announced on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, to the President on Information and Strategy in a press statement statement.

According to Onanuga, the appointment would take effect on January 10, 2026, for a four-year term.

Meanwhile, many stakeholders in the country’s legal education system have praised President Tinubu's for the choice of Odusote as the DG of the Law School, noting that it represents a historic turning point in the history of Nigeria’s legal education system. 

OTN News further reports that the 54-year-old female legal administrator by this appointment, has become the first woman to head the Nigerian Law School since its establishment in 1962, breaking a 64-year leadership barrier and setting a new precedent for gender inclusion in the legal profession.

Dr. Odusote will succeed Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose eight-year tenure as Director-General ends on January 9, 2026. Her appointment is widely regarded as both a recognition of merit and a strategic move to strengthen institutional leadership at a critical time for legal education in Nigeria.

Currently serving as Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus, she brings continuity, deep institutional knowledge, and reform-oriented leadership to the role.

Odusote definitely brings a strong AAcademic background to her new position.

Dr. Odusote’s academic journey reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence in legal scholarship. She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She went on to obtain a Master of Laws (LL.M.), specialising in Company and Commercial Law, from the same university.

Her academic credentials were further strengthened with the award of a PhD in Law from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, where her research focused on Public Law and the Administration of Justice—an area directly relevant to institutional governance and legal reports.

Dr. Odusote who joined the Nigerian Law School in 2001 as a lecturer has distinguished herself and has steadily risen through the ranks over more than two decades of service. Her career progression reflects both academic excellence and administrative competence.

She has served in several strategic leadership roles, including:

Head of the Academic Department

Director of Academics

Head of Campus

Deputy Director-General

These roles have placed her at the heart of curriculum development, academic standards enforcement, staff management, and policy implementation across the Law School system.

In addition to hher local grounding, she also brings an impressive international exposure and scholarship to bear with her new role as Dr. Odusote was a Visiting Scholar at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, gaining international exposure to comparative legal education and teaching methodologies.

She has published extensively in reputable local and international law journals and has presented scholarly papers at numerous legal education and law reform conferences. Her work has contributed to ongoing conversations around legal training, justice delivery, and institutional reform in Nigeria.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Odusote has played an active role in shaping legal policy and professional standards. She has served on several committees of both the Council of Legal Education and they Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), contributing to policy formulation and professional development within the legal community.

As Director-General, Dr. Odusote will oversee the academic, administrative, and strategic direction of the Nigerian Law School across all its campuses nationwide. She will also serve as the principal liaison between the institution and key stakeholders, including the Council of Legal Education, the Body of Benchers, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

Following the news of her appointment many stakeholders have commended President Tinubu, noting that her appappointmemeans a lot more than a personal achievement but stands as both a reference point and evidence of a symbolic and substantive advancement for Nigeria’s legal profession.

To some, it simply speaks to the commitment of the Tinubu administration to merit-based leadership, institutional continuity, and greater inclusion of women at the highest levels of public service.

On the whole, her tenure is expected to consolidate reforms, strengthen academic standards, and position the Nigerian Law School for a future that meets both national and global demands of legal education.