NIALS Fetes Danjuma at Energy Law Conference
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The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), in collaboration with the Centre for Comparative Law, University of Cape Town, South Africa, last Thursday hosted a One-Day Conference on Energy Law in honour of General Theophilus Danjuma who just turned 80.
The Conference with the theme, ‘Ending Africa’s Energy Deficit and the Law: Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Africa’, held at the Eko Hotel and Towers, and saw in attendance, Lawyers in the Academia from South Africa, Norway, Australia, and Nigeria.
The occasion also showcased the Book, ‘Ending Africa’s Energy Deficit and the Law: Achieving Sustainable Energy for All’, published by Oxford University Press and edited by the Attorney-General of Edo State, Professor Yinka Omorogbe.
In his opening remarks, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Deji Adekunle, SAN, said that “the collaboration between NIALS and the University of Cape Town, is an important catalyst for growth in both countries.
“It will unleash potentials, to enable young researchers enhance their skills, and most importantly, it is a handshake across Africa, South and West.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town and former Dean of Law, Professor Hugh Corder in response said “policy and development need to be flexible and not rigid, to enable growth in Africa’s energy sector”.
Prof Corder later presented Gen TY Danjuma with his medal and insignia of induction into the prestigious Chancellor’s Circle of the University of Cape Town.
Editor of the Book which is a compilation of writings of energy law, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, in felicitating with Gen Dajuma whose endowment funded the publication, said “most philanthropists give in the area of science and medicine, rarely do we see any give in law.
“Globally, Nigeria is being left behind in energy. While Nigeria still depends solely on hydrocarbon fuels, the rest of the world is fast moving into renewable energy and electric cars”.
She explained that what propelled the research in energy famine in Sub-Saharan Africa, not withstanding the abundant energy resources. That development without access to modern energy services, is a mirage and an impossibility, and she clearly distinguished between policy and law, which she said are not the same.
Omorogbe concluded saying “we need the law to make sure that energy and power are available at affordable cost to the poor”.
Gen TY Danjuma, in gratitude, thanked the organisers of the Conference to mark his 80th birthday, and said that his vision to endow the fund at the University of Cape Town and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, was his concern about the universality of energy and why it should be available even to the poor in Africa’s rural areas.