The Phenomenal Woman Conference 2.0 is honoured to feature Professor Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose, SAN, an iconic legal scholar, trailblazer, and one of Nigeria’s most distinguished female legal luminaries, as a Keynote Speaker.
Professor Bamgbose is a Professor of Law at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) of the University. She currently serves as a Visiting Professor at Kabarak University School of Law, Nakuru, Kenya.
In 2018, she made history when she was elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, becoming the first female Professor of Law in Nigeria to attain this highly respected distinction, the equivalent of King’s Counsel in the United Kingdom.
With an academic career spanning nearly four decades, Professor Bamgbose has taught at the University of Ibadan since 1987. Her areas of specialization include Criminal Law, Criminology, Criminal and Juvenile Justice, and Human Rights, with a strong focus on the protection of women and children. She has mentored generations of legal minds, supervising over 350 undergraduate and postgraduate students and successfully graduating eight doctoral candidates.
A prolific scholar and respected researcher, Professor Bamgbose has authored more than 120 publications, including books, journal articles, and technical reports published in reputable national and international outlets. Several of her works have been cited by courts both within and outside Nigeria, a testament to her intellectual influence and legal expertise.
Her leadership within academia is equally remarkable. She served for eight years as a member of the University of Ibadan Governing Council, was the first female Head of Department in the Faculty of Law, and served three terms as Dean of the Faculty of Law between 2008 and 2014. She also directed the Women’s Law Clinic, where she handled mediation and arbitration matters, advancing access to justice for women.
Professor Bamgbose’s global academic footprint includes appointments as Visiting Professor at Marquette University School of Law, Wisconsin, USA; Saint Louis University School of Law, Missouri, USA; and the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She has also served on several national committees focused on law reform and human rights advancement.
She is a Fellow of the Salzburg Seminar in Austria, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, and holds membership in numerous professional and academic bodies.
Beyond her exceptional professional achievements, Professor Bamgbose is a devoted missionary and family woman. She is married to Honourable Justice Olatokunbo Bamgbose, blessed with three children, two lawyers and an engineer, and is a proud grandmother.
At The Phenomenal Woman Conference 2.0, Professor Bamgbose will inspire participants with her extraordinary journey of excellence, leadership, resilience, and service, a story that truly embodies the theme:
The Power of Her Voice: Influence, Impact, Inspire.
Register here: https://bit.ly/ThePhenomenalWomanConference2026
