Webinar: "Student Forum: Nigerian Issues and Energy Transition in Developing Nations"

Jamilu Ibn Mohammed is a final year Ph.D student in the Law School at Robert Gordon University (RGU). His doctoral research investigates the design and enforcement of appropriate anti-gas flaring legal and policy regimes and the consideration of an approach that could sustain environmental regulatory compliance. The research takes a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses the fields of law, political science, economic, policy formulation, and socio-legal theories. He is a member of the Socio-legal Studies Association, National Association of Law Teachers Nigeria, Nigerian Bar Association, Energy Institute UK. He holds a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Law that investigated and compared Nigeria’s legal frameworks for combating gas flaring with that of Norway and lessons Nigeria could learn from Norwegian frameworks. Jamilu has 11 years of post-call experience in the legal profession. His research areas include energy law and policy, oil and gas regulations, environmental law and policy and research in general. Jamilu has recently served as a part-time lecturer and a student advisor at RGU. Before joining RGU as a research student, Jamilu was the principal partner of J.M Gambo & Associates and immediate Ag. Head of Department of Law Yobe State University, Nigeria. During his career in law and academic disciplines, he participated in the development and implementation of various deliverables peculiar to the disciplines and this earned him several commendations. His interpersonal skills and knowledge of the two disciplines gave him access to participate in critical decisions and their implementation. Jamilu also brings new perspectives of thoughts on international best practices in Oil and Gas, environment and energy law, regulations and policies in general.

Ilias Kazeem obtained an LLB from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, in 2013 and he was subsequently called to the Nigeria Bar in 2014. He has practised in Nigeria, in the areas of litigation, arbitration and commercial law, for a number of years. He obtained an LLM in Energy and Environmental Law, at the University of Aberdeen, UK in 2020. He commenced research for his Ph.D the same year at the University of Aberdeen and his Ph.D research focuses on an aspect of international arbitration of energy and natural resources disputes. Ilias is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, Nigerian branch. He is a student member of the AIPN and current president of the AIPN Student Club, at the University of Aberdeen.”

Victor Azubike has over five years experience in oil and gas law and is a published legal researcher in the domain of natural resource laws, specifically in petroleum resource laws, regulations and contracts. Victor attended Robert Gordon University from 2016 to 2020, where he got his doctorate degree in oil and gas law with major interests in National Oil Companies and natural resource governance. He has been previously engaged as law lecturer, contract analyst, and consultant for a non-governmental organization. He has been a member of AIPN since 2013, an Associate Member of the Energy Institute (EI), an Associate Fellow in the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association. Presently, Victor is investigating the energy transition and what it means for National Oil Companies (NOCs) in petroleum-rich developing countries with Dr Leon Moller.

Solomon Nwaulikpe Obulor is a natural resource, energy, petroleum and environmental lawyer and scholar. He is presently a doctoral researcher and teaching assistant at the School of Law, University of Aberdeen and researching on ‘Benefit-Sharing in Relation to Sustainable Oil and Gas Development  in Nigeria’. He holds a Master of Laws in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Barrister at Law) from the Nigerian Law School and a Bachelor of Laws from the Rivers State University, Nigeria.

Mr. Obulor was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2014 and has been an active solicitor and litigating barrister in the past years. He advises oil and gas corporations, government parastatals and civil societies, prepares independent legal opinions, memoranda and research papers. His areas of practice include civil litigation, oil and gas, corporate, commercial and legal compliance. He is an Associate Fellow of the United Kingdom Advance Higher Education (AFHEA) and prior to joining the School of Law, University of Aberdeen, he was deputy head of oil and gas claims in a Nigerian-based law firm of Collins N Obulor & Associates (Ibuchukwu Chambers). His areas of research and teaching include Natural Resource Governance Law, Petroleum Law, International Environmental, Energy, Health and Safety, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Delict and Public/ Constitutional Law.

Vanessa Castillo joined Brodies’ Oil & Gas team as a Senior Solicitor in 2019. Before joining Brodies, she worked in Venezuela as a Senior Associate in the corporate department of two international law firms advising clients operating in the oil and gas industry. Vanessa has significant experience advising oil and gas clients on regulatory, corporate and finance matters, joint venture agreements, operating issues and cross-border M&A. In the UKCS, she has participated in due diligence processes for the sale of oil & gas assets. She has also participated in the negotiation and drafting of EPC agreements for oil and gas facilities, as well as service agreements for onshore and offshore projects, and has experience in sector related arbitration and dispute resolution matters. She has also advised clients in the UKCS on decommissioning liabilities.

Ms. Castillo has an LLM in Oil and Gas Law with Professional Skills (Distinction) from the University of Aberdeen and holds a diploma on Management of the Hydrocarbons Business from IESA, in Caracas, Venezuela. Vanessa is qualified in Venezuelan law and has eight years PQE. She is fluent in English and Spanish. Vanessa currently serves as the Representative for Youth Matters of the Scottish Regional AIPN Board.