Meet New KWASU VC- Prof M.M. Akanbi (SAN)

BRIEF PROFILE OF PROFESSOR M.M. AKANBI SAN, LLB (Ife), LLM (Unilag, Akoka), PhD (KCL, London), ACI arb (United Kingdom), ACIS (Nig) 

Professor Muhammed Mustapha Olaroungbe Aremu Akanbi was born to the family of late Hon. Justice Muhammed Mustapha Adebayo Ajao Akanbi and late Hajia Munfaatu Aduke Akanbi. He hails from the Ile magaji Kemberi, Awodi, Gambari Quarters, Ilorin East, Kwara State of Nigeria. 

He attended various primary and secondary schools across the country i.e Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Okigwe in Imo State. Prof Akanbi SAN graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife with a Bachelor’s degree in law in the second class division in 1993. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island Lagos, where he also bagged the second class upper division. He was called to bar in 1995. 

During his service year in 1995 – 1996, Akanbi served the nation as a legal assistant in the legal unit of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Lagos.  
Between March 1996 and 1998, he practised as a junior in the law firms of Wole Bamgbala & Co, Lagos, Olawoyin and Olawoyin, Lagos and Ayodele, ‘Gafar & Co, Ilorin respectively.

Prof Akanbi SAN bagged a master’s degree in law (LLM) in 1998 from University of Lagos, Akoka. Between 2004 and 2006, he attended the prestigious Kings College, University of London, United Kingdom for his doctorate degree in law (Ph.D) which he bagged in a record time of 2 years. 
During his doctorate programme, Prof Akanbi also earned a Graduate Certificate (Non-award Route) in Academic Practice (GCAP), from the same university in 2005.

In August 1998, Akanbi joined the service of University of Ilorin as a lecturer 2 in the Department of Business law, faculty of law of the University. By dint of hard work and perseverance, he rose through the ranks and was appointed a Professor of Law in the Department of Business Law in October 2012. 

In 2014 he was also appointed an adjunct professor of law at the Kings University College, Accra, Ghana for a period of one year.In over two decades career period in the University of Ilorin, Akanbi has held several administrative positions, chief of which are: Sub-dean of the faculty of law, Head of Business Law Department, Faculty of Law, Postgraduate Representative,

Senate Member, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Deputy Director, Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT) and Director, School of Preliminary Studies, Fufu, University of Ilorin. 

Professor M.M. Akanbi has over 60 national and International publications in reputable peer-review journals with a bias in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Arbitration Law. Other research areas include conflict resolution laws, corporate management law and practice. In 2017, Prof Akanbi completed a BADEA-UNITAR Online Course on Private Sector Development (2017) with specialisation on Ease of Doing Business in Africa and was awarded a Certificate of Completion by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (BADEA-UNITAR). 

Professor Akanbi has a number of cutting-edge and trans-disciplinary research projects and consultancy to his credit, some of which include:
Lead researcher (2016- 2017), ‘Developing Interventions: Understanding Prosecutors’ Routine and Pretrial Practices’. (A research project involving 6 countries: USA, Mexico, South Africa, Ukraine, Poland and Nigeria) commissioned by the Open Society Justice Initiatives, New York.

Member – Technical Working Committee (TWG) (2013), on ‘An Independent Review of Evidence of Gross violation of the Rights to Participation in Government and Fair Trial through the Election Petition Process in Nigeria 2003 – 2011’ commissioned by National Human Right Commission, Abuja, OSIWA and the Ford Foundation.Consultant/ Member, Technical Working Committee (TWG) (2012), on a research on the Legal framework on Citizenship and Religion as it affects National Integration in Nigeria’ commissioned by International Development Law Organization (IDLO) Rome, Italy.

Professor Akanbi has attended and presented papers at several national and international conferences, workshops, retreats and seminars. He has over the years supervised to completion many postgraduate students in law and peace studies at master and doctorate levels.

Professor Akanbi serves as professorial assessor, postgraduate and external examiner to more than 20 reputable universities within and outside Nigeria. He also serves on the editorial board of several reputable journals and law reports of public and private institutions.

Professor Akanbi has also been active in his professional field. One time Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch between 2007 and 2009.Past member of the Council of Legal Education in Nigeria 2007 – 2011. 

Former member, NBA Committee on Electoral reforms. Former member, Executive Committee of the Academic Forum of the NBA.Former Member, Constitutional Review and Electoral Reform Process, NBA.Chairman, Technical Committee on the Establishment of the Kwara State Multidoor Courthouse. One time external Examiner, Nigerian Law School. Past member, Board of Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Chairman, 2014 Biennial Law Week Committee – NBA Ilorin.Member, NBA Ilorin Caretaker Committee.

Principal partner, Forum Conveniens Consult, a legal consultancy firm of Solicitors and arbitrators in Ilorin- Kwara State 2012 to date. Current Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, NBA Ilorin (2018- 2020) Member, Law Reform Committee, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration (ICSAN)Head of Legal Research Division (sabbatical leave), National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja, 2019 – 2020.

In recognition of his sterling leadership qualities, the American government nominated Prof Akanbi to be part of the International Visitor’s Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United State of America in 2016. On 24th September 2018 in recognition of his contribution to the development of law and legal profession in Nigeria, Prof Akanbi, was conferred with the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which is the highest distinction in the legal profession in Nigeria. Professor Akanbi belongs to many professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Association of Law Teachers’ Society, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom and Nigeria and Institute for Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, Nigeria.

In 2015, Professor M.M. Akanbi SAN founded the MMGIVIT Charity Initiative. The Initiative takes care of the less privilege through redistribution of wealth programmes, organising educational activities including poetry competitions and career counselling for secondary schools in Kwara State. In addition the Initiative organises health tests and counselling for less privileged members of the society.Professor M.M. Akanbi SAN is married to Hajia Shakirat Folake Akanbi (also a lawyer by profession) and they are blessed with kids.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has accepted the recommendation of the Governing Council of the Kwara State University, Malete, with regards to the appointment of Vice Chancellor.

Consequently, on behalf of His Excellency, I hereby announce the immediate appointment of Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi SAN, as the new Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete.
I am similarly conveying His Excellency’s approval of the appointment to the Governing Council of the University, today, Wednesday, the 1st day of April 2020.

Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu,
Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.
Kwara State.