Dr Tioluwani Comfort Tioluwani’s love for law was shaped while she was in primary school.
She was asked to play the role of a lawyer in a drama session.
“I would say that the real motivation to study Law was when I was asked to portray a lawyer in primary school.
“We were acting from a book called ‘The Incorruptible Judge.’ I enjoyed acting as a lawyer,” she recalled.
That experience, along with her mum being a lawyer, shaped her career journey.
“My second huge motivation was my mum. She is a lawyer as well. She planted the seed of curiosity in me and shaped my love for the legal profession,” she said.
After her secondary education at the Kings International College, Ibadan, she enrolled to study law at the University of Abuja.
She practised in different law firms before travelling to the United Kingdom for further studies, where she excelled.
She was awarded Best LL.M student at the Bangor University, Wales.
Afterwards, she enrolled in the University of Essex for her Ph.D.
“I obtained my PhD in Law from the University of Essex, specialising in Private and Business Law. I served as Post Graduate Students Representative during my studies,” Tioluwani said.
She is interested in creating an inclusive learning environment and pushing research beyond normal boundaries.
She is actively engaged with the Society of Legal Scholars and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and advocates for collaborative approaches to addressing legal challenges around the world.
Her academic research is on driving positive change within the legal field and beyond.
Tioluwani’s achievements have earned her numerous recognitions.
She said: “My most recent award is the Canadian Black History Trail Blazer Award and the Toronto Police Humanitarian Award.
“I got the Canadian Black History Trail Blazer Award as a result of the quality impact I have made due to my academic achievements and because I also advocated for diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. Being a Trail Blazer means breaking down barriers.
“I got the Toronto Humanitarian Award in recognition of my endeavour to uplift others.
“Being a partner at the Care People Foundation – a non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities and orphans – helped me get this award.
“During my Masters, I got the best LL.M Students Award in Law in recognition of my academic performance, being the best-graduating student that year.
“I also got the Excellence Award which acknowledged my leadership and entrepreneurship qualities.”
Tioluwani credits her parents with her successes.
“My parents gave me the best upbringing and everything I wanted. They gave me love. They have been the ones pushing me and helping me.
“My parents continually support me, being there for me and continually praying for me.
“I would say they played a huge role in terms of growing up and getting to the point I am,” she said.
‘How to tackle adjudication delays in Nigeria’
And having practised law in Nigeria, how does Tioluwani think the Nigerian judiciary can address one of its major problems: adjudication delays?
“One of the ways to reduce the backlog of cases would be allowing and pushing for alternative dispute resolution,” she said.
“Instead of always going to court to resolve issues, people should also consider alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration.
“This is very effective in the UK. It is something that we teach the students. It is something we have seen out here.
“There is an organisation called the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Services (ACAS). When there are issues like rail strikes, instead of going to court, issues are resolved at ACAS quickly.
“Going to court takes a very long time, so if something like that is considered in Nigeria, it will be better. Even in other areas like sports, the ACAS can resolve disputes.
“Another thing that I might want to mention would be the constant dragging of cases. Most times these have to do with individuals.
“Some delays might not necessarily have to do with the court system, but the individuals involved.”
Tioluwani said her career focus is on advancing knowledge and making a quality impact.
Although working in the UK, she said she would continue to contribute to her homeland’s development in any way she can and does not rule out returning in future.
Legal lessons from mum
For most law students, having a parent who is a lawyer helps, and that was the case with Tioluwani.
“I used the notes that my mum took when she was in the university. I enjoyed my mum’s notes.
“The cases she cited were the cases we used in the class as well. That was just good for me.
“Being able to discuss law, talk about some of the things she knows, I found those very interesting.
“That kind of motivated my sister and I to study law. My sister used my notes too and my mum’s as well.
“Sometimes we have conversations in the house, comparing new law with the old law. It was just usually a fun thing and a very nice thing to do.”
-Thenation
