The lecture was organised by the Faculty of Law at Rhodes University.  Prof. Bamgbose is currently on an ARUA-Carnegie sponsored Study Tour at Rhodes University. 

The study tour is an important part of the Carnegie-sponsored data-gathering and benchmarking project at ARUA member universities. The purpose of the study tour is to offer an opportunity for staff participating in the project to study the systems that are currently in place for the collection, management and validation of the data supplied to ARUA for the benchmarking exercise at other peer institutions. The programme is deemed to be important for peer learning among ARUA member universities towards enhanced strategic planning and research management at higher education institutions in Africa.

Delivering the lecture to members of the university community, Prof. Bamgbose said that disputes are a part of life for living creatures, from insects to human beings. While insects or animals may fight for space, territory and dominance, she argued that human beings and countries fight each other for territory and may engage in war.  She said that throughout history, differences resulting in conflict were resolved, adding that they are still being resolved and will continue to be resolved. She pointed out that traditional societies settled and still settle family disputes without interference from and invitation to the third parties who are not members of that family.

In her presentation, she also looked at the concepts of conflict and conflict resolution, peace in the midst of conflict and the efforts that are made at nation building. Through the use of case studies to support a preposition, she argued that the use of alternatives dispute resolution (ADR) methods in some cases, through the establishment of a grounded ADR structure in place, to resolve conflict rather than the use of litigation may be a solution to nation building.

Prof. Bamgbose who was warmly welcomed at Rhodes as a special guest, also used the opportunity to also interact with university officials, students and other members of the university community.

Profile of Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose

Professor Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is the first Female Professor of Law in Nigeria to be conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September, 2018. She is the currently the Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum.

A seasoned administrator, Professor Bamgbose was the first female Head of Department in the Faculty of Law University of Ibadan Nigeria between 1997 and 2003 and served as Dean of Faculty of Law between 2009 and 2014. The Professor of Law was an internal member of the Governing Council, University of Ibadan, Ibadan for seven years before she was appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor in 2021 and currently an external member of the Governing Council, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria. She also served as Sub-Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria; as Assistant Hall Warden and Acting Warden, in the Queen Elizabeth 11 female Hall, University of Ibadan. Nigeria.

 An active staff clinician, she served as Director of the Women’s Law Clinic University of Ibadan between 2007 and 2022 and she is a very active participant at Global Alliance for Justice Education and International Journal of Clinical Legal Education conferences.

She served as Chairperson of “The Study Group on the Death Penalty for the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” and was a Member of Nigeria’s National Committee on the Reform of Discriminatory Laws against Women.

She has a strong interest in women and children issues and is a strong advocate of clinical legal education. She has spoken at many conferences on the above issues and was the Guest Speaker at the Celebration of 100 years of Women in Law at Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA in 2008.

The professor and learned silk belongs to many national and international bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association; the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum, International Federation of Female Lawyers, International association of Law Schools and Global Law Deans Forum.

She has published over one hundred and ten (110) articles, books and technical reports in her field of law, on women and children and Clinical Legal Education, in English language and translation into other languages in national and international outlets.

She is a widely travelled scholar and has been a Visiting Professor in many Universities within and outside Nigeria during her sabbatical leave and these include Marquette University School of Law, Wisconsin, United States of America in the Fall Semester 2001; at Saint Louis University School of Law, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America in the Spring Semester 2008 and also at the University of Lagos. Akoka, Lagos from 2014 -2015.