NiDCOM Celebrates Nigerian Law Professor Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu on Appointment as Dean of University of Saskatchewan College of Law

A Nigerian-born law professor, Dr Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu, has been appointed Dean of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

The appointment was announced on September 1, 2026, following a selection process chaired by Patti McDougall, Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic at the university. Odumosu-Ayanu will begin her five-year tenure on October 1, 2026. She succeeds Professor Martin Phillipson, who completed two five-year terms in the role.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, congratulated the professor in a statement issued in Abuja on September 7, 2026. The Chairman and CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the appointment as a remarkable achievement and a source of pride for Nigeria and Nigerians in the diaspora.

Dabiri-Erewa said the appointment demonstrates the calibre of Nigerian professionals making significant contributions to global education, research and leadership. She noted that Odumosu-Ayanu’s journey from Lagos to the University of Saskatchewan reflects years of scholarship, dedication and leadership.

The NiDCOM boss commended the professor for her contributions to legal scholarship, research and graduate education. She added that Odumosu-Ayanu’s rise to a senior leadership position at a Canadian university exemplifies the excellence and dedication of Nigerians in the diaspora.

According to the University of Saskatchewan, Odumosu-Ayanu’s tenure is expected to build on the College of Law’s reputation for excellence in legal education and research. The university also expects her to strengthen leadership in Indigenous legal scholarship and engagement with local and global communities.

Born and raised in Lagos, Odumosu-Ayanu developed an early interest in reading and writing and initially considered studying communications. With encouragement from teachers and support from her parents, she chose law.

She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos. She then moved to Canada and obtained a master’s degree from the University of Calgary, drawn by its research strengths in natural resources, energy and environmental law. She later completed a PhD at the University of British Columbia. She had planned to return to Nigeria to practise law after her master’s, but her path led her into teaching and research.

Odumosu-Ayanu joined the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2008. She currently serves as Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies.

NiDCOM said her achievement is further evidence of the contributions Nigerians continue to make globally through knowledge, expertise and professional excellence. Dabiri-Erewa wished her a successful tenure and urged her to continue inspiring young Nigerians at home and abroad.