Professor Abiola Olaitan Sanni Emerges as Dean of Law, UNILAG

Professor Abiola Olaitan Sanni, SAN, has been elected as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), succeeding Professor Ige Omotayo Bolodeoku on August 1, 2024.

Jul 9, 2024 - 12:32

Professor Abiola Olaitan Sanni Emerges as Dean of Law, UNILAG

Professor Abiola Olaitan Sanni, SAN, has been elected as the new Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), effective August 1, 2024. He succeeds Professor Ige Omotayo Bolodeoku, who has held the position since 2020. The election, held on July 5, 2024, was a keenly contested race among three Senior Advocates of Nigeria: Professor Joseph Abugu, Professor Babatunde Oni, and Professor Sanni.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Sanni highlighted the shared vision among the candidates, particularly regarding the welfare of students and staff and the proposed New Faculty Building project. He stated, “The three of us were practically reading from the same hymn book as far as the welfare of students and staff is concerned; the difference may be in the approach. We are determined to bequeath enduring legacies leveraging network in government circles, the immense goodwill of all our faculty members and alumni. My manifesto is a pact on sustainable progress, accountability, and probity. With a unity of purpose, there is nothing we cannot do.”

Professor Sanni's academic journey began at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Laws Degrees in 1989 and 1992, respectively. He started his teaching career at OAU in 1991 as a Junior Trainee Fellow, eventually rising to Lecturer I and serving as the Acting Head of the Department of Business Law in 1997. During his early career, he coordinated the publication of the first book on Legal Methods in Nigeria, "Introduction to Nigerian Legal Methods," which remains a leading text in Nigerian universities and the West African sub-region.

In 1999, Professor Sanni transferred to UNILAG, where his career continued to flourish. He was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship in 2003, spending 10 months at the International Tax Programme of Beasley School of Law, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA. He was also appointed a Research Fellow at the Institute of International Law and Policy during the same period. In 2016, he achieved the unique honor of being simultaneously appointed as a Professor of Commercial Law and the holder of a Professorial Chair endowed by Lagos State for the Advancement of Taxation and Fiscal Matters, earning him the title of “Double Professor,” a first in UNILAG.

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Professor Sanni has served the Nigerian government in various professional capacities, including as Chairman of the National Tax Policy Review Committee (NTPRC) in 2016 and currently as a member of the Presidential Fiscal Policy Tax Reform Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Taiwo Oyedele. Balancing his professional and personal life, he engages in sports and social activities and is a member of several clubs, including Ikoyi Club 1938, Octagon 90, and the UNILAG Staff Club. He is married to Princess Olusola Amoke Sanni.