Professor Wahab Egbewole SAN has been
announced as substantive Vice-chancellor (VC) of the University of Ilorin
(UNILORIN) by the Varsity’s Governing Council.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing
Council, Mallam Abidu Yazid made the announcement during a press conference
held at the University Auditorium on Thursday.
Prof Wahab Olasupo Egbewole SAN was born over five decades ago in Osun State where he had his primary, secondary and tertiary (LL. B and LL.M degrees) education. He attended the Nigerian Law School and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. From 1985 to 1995, Prof Egbewole accumulated legal practice experience from government and private firms, and started his own law firm, Wahab Egbewole & Co in 1995.
As an active legal practitioner, Prof
Egbewole has continued to practice law and has contributed immensely to the
development of Nigerian jurisprudence in several areas, particularly
in election petitions, criminal practices, general civil practices, among
others. In recognition of his shrewdness and political sagacity, he was elected
by his law colleagues as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin
Branch.
He had also served as a member of the
National Executive Committee for the Nigerian Bar Association. He reached the
pinnacle of legal profession in 2018 when, and having distinguished himself, he was
conferred with the coveted rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Driven by the urge to contribute to legal
education, the erudite Professor joined the services of the University of
Ilorin in 1997 as a Lecturer II. Not long after joining the University, his
vibrant industriousness and scholarship soon came to the fore, and he has used
these attributes to benefit legal education and research. Prof Egbewole’s
administrative savvy has seen him serve the Law Faculty in numerous capacities
including Acting Head of Department, Sub-Dean, Acting Dean of Law, among
others.
He has also served the university in
various capacities, notable among which are his role as the Director, General
Studies Division, his membership of the University Senate and Member, Governing
Council. The erudite scholar was appointed a Professor of Jurisprudence and
International Law in 2012 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to
research and university administration.
Prof Egbewole SAN is a member of many
respected professional organisations, both nationally and internationally,
including but not limited to the Nigerian Bar Association, National Association
of Law Teachers, the American Society of International Law, the African Bar Association,
the International Bar Association, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
(UK).
Prof Egbewole SAN has so distinguished
himself that his academic and legal skills have been sought after by local and
international establishments as evidenced, for example, by his membership on
notable education boards like the Board of Studies of the Council of Legal
Education; his participation on many law review committees; and as reviewer for
local, national and international law journals. In addition, the learned
Professor has acted as external examiner for PhD theses and assessor for the
appointment of Readers and Professors both in Nigerian and overseas
universities.
Prof Egbewole SAN is a prolific and
consistent researcher as demonstrated by his very robust publication profile.
At the moment, in addition to publishing a book, the Professor has more than 40
journal articles, over 30 book chapters, more than 10 edited books, and a
considerable of completed commissioned projects and technical reports to his name,
all published in reputable local, national and international journal outlets
and by respected national and international publishers.
The Professor has continued to keep himself
abreast of developments in his fields of research by continuously attending
several training programs, workshops and conferences. He has also continually
disseminated and imbibed knowledge by attending local and international
conferences where he shares the outcomes of his research works. He has
continuously mentored younger academics, practitioners and students. The
Professor has won several national and international grants which he has
deployed to further researches of practical benefits to the society.
Prof Egbewole SAN is happily married and
blessed with children.