Board of Trustees

Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan - Chairman of the Board

Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan LLB(1986), LL.M(1990), PhD(1997)),

Prof Ladan is the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) born on 24th March 1960, at kofar Mazugal Quarters, Dala Local Government, Kano State, is a Professor of Law with 33 years (1987-2020) experience in teaching, research, publications, mentorship and Supervision, with specialization in comparative jurisprudence, public international law relating to environment, energy, natural resources, humanitarian, human rights, gender and development laws in Africa.

 A member of many renowned associations including: World Jurist Association, Washington DC, USA; IUCN Academy and Commission on Environmental Law; Association of African Environmental Law Scholars; a Hubert Humphrey Fellow, USA, and member Nigerian Society of International Law. Prof. Ladan is also the Deputy Chair, National Committee on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law Treaties (IHL) and National Committee on the Justice Sector Reform Implementation Committee (2011-to date). Presently the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal studies, Abuja/ Lagos the apex legal research and training Institute in Nigeria.

Prof. Ladan has consulted and served as technical resource person for many Organizations including; UNEP Kenya, UNICRI, ECOWAS Commission, UNDP, UNHCR, and UNICEF Nigeria (2004-2018). He has authored over 16 books, 80 journal articles and over 100 national and international conference/seminar papers written and presented within and outside Nigeria. His work includes:

  • National Expert Consultant for the World Bank Group Water Survey, 2017 EBA Report, 2017.
  • Expert Reviewer of UNEP Draft Study Report on Global Stocktaking of Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Legislation, 2017.
  • Member of the UNEP legal and technical experts that peer reviewed the Global Compendium on innovative laws promoting Green Economy; the Compendium of best Practices on Enforcement of Environmental Law; and participated at the first UN Environment Assembly and Global and Global Symposium on Environmental Rule of Law, held in Nairobi, Kenya (January- December 2014).
  • Materials, Cases and Policies on Energy, Environment, Climate Change, Maritime, Water and Human Right in Nigeria (2010: ABU Press, Zaria, Nigeria)
  • Ladan, M.T. (2017): – Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change and Extractive Resource Management in Africa. Ahmadu Bello University Press Ltd, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, pp.1-484

Prof. Ladan’s contribution to the development of Nigerian and International laws is clearly manifested in his widely cited and referred to on his blogsite: – http://mtladan.blogsite.com

Email: mtladan@gmail.com,mtladan@nials.edu.ng

 

Helen Kezie- Nwoha

Helen Kezie- Nwoha is the current Executive Director at The Women’s International Peace Centre (formerly Isis Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange- Isis-WICCE) a global feminist organization promoting women’s participation in peace building processes, she obtained her first degree in Bachelor of Science Zoology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (1991) she went on to pursue a Master in Business Administration at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (1998) and later bagged a Master of Arts degrees in Gender and International Development from the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK (2007)

She is a member of prominent professional bodies including:  The African Women’s Mediation Network (Femwise Africa), The Southern Voices Network for Peace Building, Uganda Feminist Forum, Technical Working Group on UNSCR1325 in Uganda and Steering Committee of the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign at the African Union.

Helen Kezie-Nwoha is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in peace building, mediation, conflict prevention, community engagement, women’s empowerment, gender equality and conflict sensitive programming and experience engaging with national stakeholders to establish conflict early warning and early response mechanisms, leading and managing national and international NGO with million dollar budgets, human resource management, women rights/feminist movement, women’s political participation and leadership, national and international development, providing advice for conflict resolution and relief programming, finance and business development around grants acquisition and management.

She has a vest knowledge and experience in Feminist Research, leadership and team building, Process facilitation, Proposal writing, Project management and evaluation, Advocacy and Policy Influencing, Training and facilitation, Report writing and People management. She is also known internationally as an eloquent orator and writer with over 10 published articles on gender, conflict resolution, and women’s participation in conflict resolution, sexual reproductive health etc.

Dr. Uwem Esiet

Public Health Physician with over thirty years’ experience in Development Sector with focus on advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. He is the Co-Founder/Director Action Health Incorporated; Member International Advisory Board Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College, London; Member Advisory Board World Association for Sexual Health (WAS); Convener Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights; Member PMNCH Advocacy Reference Group; Honorary President 25th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health, September 2021.

 

Prof. Gye-Wado

A Professor of Law, currently a lecturer at Bingham University Keffi Nasarawa, States of the Department of International Affairs in the Directorate of Research.

A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (1977), obtained a Master Degree in Law at the University of London (1981) and there after proceeded to get a Doctorate Degree from the University of Nigeria Nsuka, Enugu State (1987).

Prof. Gye-Wado started his working career as a magistrate with the Plateau State Judiciary. Thereafter, he began his academic career as a lecturer with the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, where he rose to the rank of a professor.

Prof. Gye-Wado had a stint as a Research Fellow with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Lagos (1989-1991). He was also Deputy Governor Nasarawa State (1999-2003) and Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission Abuja (2005-2007).

Prof. Gye-Wado has worked and published in the areas of Human Rights, Constitutional Law and the Environment.

Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau - President/Secretary of the Board

Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau is a distinguished Chevening Alumnus, human rights activist, and a professional Chartered Mediator and Conciliator, with immense experience in civil law practice, women and child rights policy and advocacy, conflict resolution, social research, sexual and reproductive health and rights. Her resolute commitment to the best interest of her clients and her attendant successes have earned her commendations and accolade from various quarters.

She has served as the Country Vice President/National President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria) between 2012and 2015. She has also served as a Board Member of several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) including ActionAid International Nigeria and Nigerian Trust Fund. She currently serves as a board member of League of Human Rights and El-Shaddai Widows Outreach. She is the immediate past Country Director of Ipas Nigeria, an international non-governmental organisation (INGO) where she served from 2015 to 2019. She is presently the Branch Chairperson, NBA Unity Bar, Abuja.

Education:

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (LL.B Hons 1991)

  • Nigerian Law School, Lagos (BL 1992)
  • School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (LL.M 2007)

Practice Areas:

  • Litigation, Arbitration & ADR
  • Women and Child Rights Policy and Advocacy
  • Conflict Resolution

Membership of Professional Societies:

  • Nigerian Bar Association
  • International Bar Association
  • Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators
  • Association of Women in Development (AWID)
  • Life Member, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)