Chairman of Summit Day 2
Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN
Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (the equivalent of Queen’s Counsel in England). He is an alumnus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (1973-1977) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (1979-1980). As a leading pro-democracy and rule of law advocate, he founded the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) of which he was the president from 1987 to 1995. He became the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (2006-2008).
Dr. Agbakoba is widely regarded as a Master of complex litigation, resolving disputes quickly and effectively with little disruption to business as possible. He advises clients in diverse sectors of the economy such as the banking and financial sector, shipping and maritime industry, telecommunications, capital markets, oil and gas, insurance, retail and trade, property and construction, probate, labour and employment. He is the Chair, Committee on Financial Services Sector Reform and advised the Government of Nigeria on Banking Sector Reforms.
He is one of Nigeria’s leading experts on Maritime Laws having successfully litigated several complex maritime cases and promoting legal reforms in maritime law including the Cabotage Act, the National Oceanic Policy and other strategic legislations. He is the founding President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, and Vice-Chairman Presidential Committee on the review of the maritime sector.
Dr. Agbakoba is also a leading Arbitrator, an initiator and pioneer of Law Firm Annexed Arbitration/ Mediation Centre in Lagos (Nigeria), the Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) Arbitration & Mediation Centre. He designed the arbitration mechanism and court rules for Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) resulting in speedy recoveries of bank loans during the world-wide financial crisis. He played a major role in the reform of both State and Federal High Court Rules for speedy dispensation of justice.
He is a Development Law expert and has advocated the application of law in development planning and economic growth. He has consulted and provided advisory services to the federal and state governments, as well as government ministries, departments and multilateral agencies on legal reforms and legislative advocacy for financial sector reforms. He is a member of the steering committee, National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group., the leading public and private sector think-tank to improve the Nigerian business environment.
Dr. Agbakoba is Nigeria’s leading Space Law Expert.
He has authored numerous books and publications such as Maritime Cabotage in Nigeria; Bankruptcy Proceedings in Nigeria; Development Law Books, Federal High Court Practice Manual, Maritime Newsletter Volume I & II among many others.
Dr. Agbakoba is married and has three daughters and grandchildren.
