Itse Sagay
Itse Sagay
Itse Sagay is a distinguished Professor of International Law, an erudite scholar, legal luminary, author and human rights advocate.
Career
Itse Sagay received his early education at CMS School, Warri.
He attended Government College, Ughelli, Delta State, from September 1954 to December 1959. He worked as a Customs clerk and later as a programme operator (studio manager) in the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Ikoyi before proceeding for tertiary education.
He applied and gained admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, in 1962 where he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree (LL. B) in 1965.
[3] He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his professional training and was called to the Bar in July 1966.
He then obtained the Certificate of the Council of Legal Education (B.L.) 1966 and became an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on July 22, 1966.
Due to his desire to pursue a career in academics, He was retained as a teaching assistant by the University of Ife which sponsored him for post-graduate studies at the prestigious King’s College, Cambridge University, UK, where he obtained his Master's degree in 1968. He bagged his Doctorate degree from the same University in 1970. He went on to obtain a Certificate from The Hague Academy of International Law in 1976.
He returned to the University of Ife, assiduously ascended the professional ladder, and was appointed as a Professor of Law in 1979.
He served in various capacities during his time at the University of Ife; some of which include, Acting Head, Department of International Law, Acting Dean, Faculty of Law and finally Dean, Faculty of Law (1981-1982).
[2] In 1981, Professor Itse Sagay went to the University of Benin as a visiting Professor and later joined that institution on a full-time basis in 1982 as the young faculty’s first and only professor for the first few years.
Professor Itse Sagay has written over one hundred and fifty articles, conference papers and reviews, and proudly authored eleven books some of which have become great resource materials for Law Students, such as “The Nigerian Law of Contract”, an epochal publication which remains ‘The Bible’ on Nigerian contract law.
He is locally and internationally recognized having served in ad-hoc capacities in a number of Nigerian and international institutions, some of which include the AU, UNDP, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Nigerian Council for Legal Education, UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, amongst others.
Professor Itse Sagay is an accomplished Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the basis of academic works, Professor Itse Sagay is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Member, the International Law Association; Member, American Society of International Law; and Member, the Nigerian Society of International Law, and many more.
Presently, Professor Itse Sagay serves as the Managing Partner of Itse Sagay & Co., a position he has held since 1988.
He was appointed Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari in August, 2015, a clear testimony to his integrity, high principles and strong sense of propriety.
Personal
Professor Itsejuwa Esanjumi Sagay was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on December 20, 1940.
He is an indigene of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
He is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his immense contributions to the Nigerian Legal System.
Professor Itse Sagay is happily married, with children, to Mrs. Sheila Tare Sagay.