President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history as the first woman to lead the body since its establishment in 1962. The appointment, approved on January 6, 2026, will take effect from January 10, 2026, and runs for a four-year term.
Dr. Odusote, 57, currently serves as the Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School. She succeeds Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose eight-year tenure ends on January 9, 2026. The presidential approval was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
A seasoned legal educator and administrator, Odusote earned her LL.B from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She also holds an LL.M from the same institution and a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, with research interests in public law and the administration of justice. She joined the Nigerian Law School in 2001 and has held several senior roles, including Head of Department, Director of Academics, and Head of Campus.
In her new role, Odusote will be responsible for the academic leadership, administrative management and strategic direction of the Nigerian Law School across all campuses. Her appointment is seen as both a historic step for gender inclusion in Nigeria’s legal education sector and a continuation of efforts to strengthen institutional leadership in the country’s legal training infrastructure.
