ABUAD Becomes First University to Host ILA Nigeria Annual Conference

Afe Babalola University, Ado‑Ekiti (ABUAD) made history on Tuesday, the 8^th of April, 2025, as the first university ever to host the International Law Association (ILA), Nigerian Branch, for its 8th Annual Conference.

The Vice- Chancellor, Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, made the disclosure while addressing journalists at a Press Briefing held at ABUAD’s Senate Chambers.

“Today marks a milestone not just for ABUAD, but for legal scholarship in Nigeria,” Professor Olarinde said. “For years, the ILA annual conference has been held in hotels and event centres. Now, for the very first time, it’s happening in the heart of a university, our university- Afe Babalola University.”

She noted that this partnership reflects a shared mission: the ILA’s commitment to advancing public and private international law dovetails perfectly with ABUAD’s ambition to rank among the world’s top 100 universities.

Over the past year, ABUAD has cemented its global reputation. ABUAD was ranked as Nigeria’s top University for the third consecutive time in the 2024 by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and it leads the world in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Clean and Affordable Energy (SDG 7), Outreach and Stewardship.

The conference’s theme:“Fostering Trade and Investment Integration for Sustainable Development: The Role of International Law”, could not be more significant, Professor Olarinde declared. “Breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and agriculture can only change lives if they cross borders freely,” she said.

Delegates will tour ABUAD’s 132‑unit Industrial Park, which houses a rice mill, cassava‑processing plant, poundo‑yam factory, and carbonated‑drinks facility. At the Bogoro Research Centre, scientists have already developed three novel drugs—Virucidine; Natucadine, an anti‑aging formulation; and AB‑Mal, an anti‑malaria medication, all 100% African-based products. She added that the ABUAD Multi‑System Hospital is performing groundbreaking surgeries, with the university’s farm driving food security and aggrotech innovation across the region.

“All of these and many more are as a result of the great vision of our Chancellor and Founder, Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN,” Professor Olarinde said proudly. She then called on the Federal Government to designate the Industrial Park as a Free Trade Zone, which would allow homegrown products to reach global markets unhindered, spurring economic growth, job creation, and foreign‑exchange earnings.

ABUAD’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships (RISP), Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, who also serves as President of ILA, Nigerian Branch, decried the delay in appointing ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions and urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action. He argued that ambassadors skilled in International Law and diplomacy are essential to minimize the disruptive effects of unilateralism and isolation on the flow of goods and services across borders.

He further warned that the recent sweeping of trade tariffs by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, could destabilize international trade, emphasizing on the need for Nigeria to fill its diplomatic posts with highly qualified, experienced International Law experts.

“We therefore call on Mr. President (Bola Tinubu) as a matter of great exigency, to take urgent steps to appoint highly skilled international law experts as Ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions, including to the World Trade Organization, UNCTAD, UNESCO and other United Nations agencies”.

In her reaction, the Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu, described ABUAD as the perfect host, going by “its reputation for academic excellence and innovation”.

The two-day conference will run from 4p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, and 9a.m Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the Alfa Belgore Hall, ABUAD, with over 20 experts expected to speak at the event.

FROM THE VC’s DESK