Dapo Akandeis a British-Nigerian academic and lawyer. Akande is theChichele Professor of Public International Lawat theUniversity of Oxford,a Fellow ofAll Souls College, Oxfordand co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC).[1]Akande was the first Black professor to be honoured with a portrait atSt Peter's College, Oxford.[2]Akande is a founding editor ofEJIL:Talk!,the scholarly blog of theEuropean Journal of International Law.[3]

Dapo Akande
Dapo Akande speaking in Singapore in 2022
TitleChichele Professor of International Law
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic work
InstitutionsBlavatnik School of Government
All Souls College, Oxford

In November 2021, Akande was elected to theUnited NationsInternational Law Commissionfor the term 2023–2027 at the 76th session of theUnited Nations General Assembly.[4]He was co-nominated by theUnited Kingdom,Japan,Kenya,SloveniaandNigeria[5]making him the first candidate to be nominated by countries from four United Nations regional groups in the history of the International Law Commission.[6]

In September 2024, the UK Government declared its intention to nominate Professor Akande for election as a judge to theInternational Court of Justicefor the term 2027 - 2035.[7]

Education

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Akande graduated with aBachelor of Laws(LLB) fromObafemi Awolowo University(formerly the University of Ife) in 1992. In 1993, he qualified as a barrister and solicitor from theNigerian Law School.Akande was awarded aMaster of Laws(LLM) from theLondon School of Economics and Political Sciencein 1994, and was awarded aMaster of Arts(MA) by resolution from theUniversity of Oxfordin 2004.[8]

Academic career

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Akande in 2018

Since 2004, Akande has lectured in Public International Law at the University of Oxford. Prior to that, Akande taught law atDurham University(2000–2004),University of Nottingham(1998–2000),University of Cambridge(1996–1998) and at theLondon School of Economics and Political Science(1994–1998). Akande has also held numerous international visiting professorships and lectureships.[9]

Akande sits on the board of several legal journals and scholarly organisations, including theAmerican Journal of International Law,Israel Law Review,Nigerian Yearbook of International Law,Ethiopian Yearbook of International Lawand theAfrican Journal of International and Comparative Law.[10]

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Akande has engaged in advisory work for numerous national governments and international organizations on matters of international law.[11]He has advised and assisted counsel or provided expert opinions in cases before theInternational Criminal Court,International Court of Justice,theInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,theUnited Nations Human Rights Committee,theAfrican Court on Human and Peoples' Rights,theEuropean Court of Human Rights,theWorld Trade Organizationand international trade and arbitral tribunals. He has advised theAfrican Union,theCommonwealth Secretariat,Council of Europe,theAssociation of South East Asian Nations(ASEAN), theInternational Committee of the Red CrossandNATO.[12]Akande has also addressed theUnited Nations Security Counciland theUnited Nations Human Rights Council.[13]Akande has provided training on international law to lawyers, diplomats, military officers and other government officials, including officials from the UKForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeandRoyal Navy,the Government ofDenmark,the Government ofSudan,and leaders from the Asia-Pacific Region.[14]

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Akande is a Member ofEssex Court Chambers,London.[15]He has also acted as an advisor in cases before the UK national courts, including the UK Supreme Court and advised the UK Parliament's All Party Parliamentary Group on Drones.[16]

Prizes and awards

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  • Ambassador’s Commendation, Government of Japan for his outstanding contribution to the progressive development of international law and support for Japan’s efforts in strengthening the rule of law (2024).[17]
  • Certificate of Merit for high technical craftsmanship and utility to practicing lawyers and scholars, American Society of International Law (2019).[18]
  • Premio Regione Toscana Giorgio La Pira Prize (Prize for the Best Paper Authored by a Young Scholar) for his article in the Journal of International Criminal Justice on the “Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over Nationals of Non-Parties: Legal Basis and Limits” (2003).[19]
  • Junior Award of the International Affairs Sub-Committee of the Gilbert Murray Trust (1995).

Publications

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Akande has written or co-authored more than sixty publications on a wide range of international legal topics.[20]His books include:

  • Welsh; Akande; Rodin (2023).The Individualisation of War: Ethics, Law and Politics.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780192872203.
  • Saul; Akande (2020).Oxford Guide to International Humanitarian Law.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780198855309.
  • Akande; Kuosmanen; McDermott; Roser (2020).Human Rights and 21st Century Challenges: Poverty, Conflict and the Environment.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780198824770.
  • Akande; Higgins; Webb; Sivakumaran; Sloan (2017).Oppenheim's International Law: The United Nations.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780198808312.
  • International Group of Experts (2017).Tallinn Manual 2.0 on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Operations.Cambridge University Press.ISBN9781316822524.
  • Murray; Akande; Garraway; Hampson; Lubell; Wilmshurst (2016).Practitioner's Guide to Human Rights in Armed Conflict.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780198791393.
  • Cassese; Akande (2009).Oxford Companion to International Criminal Law and Justice.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780199238323.

References

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  1. ^"Professor Dapo Akande".University of Oxford.
  2. ^"'Oxford is a complicated place; it is both very diverse in some ways, and not at all in others'".medium.com.
  3. ^"Dapo Akande".EJIL:Talk!.
  4. ^"2021 Election of the International Law Commission".International Law Commission.
  5. ^"2021 Election of the International Law Commission".International Law Commission.
  6. ^"United Kingdom's Prof Dapo Akande backed by five United Nations members for 2021 International Law Commission election".
  7. ^"UK to nominate Professor Dapo Akande for election as a judge to the International Court of Justice".
  8. ^"Professor Dapo Akande, United Kingdom Candidate for the International Law Commission 2021"(PDF).www.gov.uk.
  9. ^"Professor Dapo Akande".Essex Court Chambers.
  10. ^"Dapo Akande".World Economic Forum.
  11. ^"'The remarkable exploits of the first Black professor to get a portrait at St. Peter's College, Oxford'".Face2Face Africa.
  12. ^"Mr Dapo Akande"(PDF).United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law.
  13. ^"Professor Dapo Akande".Essex Court Chambers.
  14. ^"Dapo Akande".The International Center for Transitional Justice.
  15. ^"Professor Dapo Akande".Essex Court Chambers.
  16. ^"APPG Inquiry Into The Use Of Armed Drones: Panel Members".All Party Parliamentary Group on Drones.
  17. ^"Professor Dapo Akande awarded commendation by the Ambassador of Japan".University of Oxford, Faculty of Law.
  18. ^"ASIL Honors".American Society of International Law.
  19. ^"Dapo Akande".European University Institute.
  20. ^"Professor Dapo Akande, United Kingdom Candidate for the International Law Commission 2021".www.gov.uk.
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