Structure of the Society

Overview

The Society of Construction Law Nigeria is governed by a Board of Trustees and comprises three categories of membership: Founder Members, Executive Members (serving on the Board and committees), and Ordinary Members (the general membership). The structure reflects SCLN’s commitment to multidisciplinary practice — bringing together lawyers, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and project professionals under a single professional body.

Founder Members

Founder Members are the individuals who were instrumental in the establishment of the Society of Construction Law Nigeria, building on the groundwork laid through the Lord Mayor of London’s trade delegation to Nigeria in 2008 and the subsequent years of preparatory work to develop the critical mass of professional support needed to launch the Society formally in 2017.

The establishment of SCLN drew on the model and encouragement of the Society of Construction Law UK. LinkedIn was used in the early stages to build a constituency of interest and to demonstrate to the SCL UK that a Nigerian society had the membership base to merit recognition and support within the international network.

Founder Members hold honorary membership of the Society in perpetuity in recognition of their contribution to its creation and early development. They are entitled to attend all Society events and to access member resources, and are exempt from annual subscription requirements.

Executive Members — Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Society and is responsible for its strategic direction, financial management, governance and the oversight of all Society activities. The Board operates in accordance with the Society’s By-laws and meets not less than four times per year.

The Board includes the following standing officer positions:

  • Chairman — provides overall leadership of the Society and chairs Board and General Meetings
  • Vice Chairman — supports the Chairman and acts in the Chairman’s absence
  • Secretary — manages the administration and correspondence of the Society and maintains the membership register
  • Treasurer — oversees the financial affairs of the Society, maintains accounts and reports to the Board on financial matters

The current Board of Trustees includes notable legal practitioners, the current president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and the past presidents of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors — reflecting the Society’s multidisciplinary character at the highest level of governance.

In addition to the Board, the Society operates a number of committees that carry out the day-to-day work of the Society in specialist areas:

  • Events Committee — plans and delivers the Society’s programme of seminars, workshops, roundtables and the Annual Lecture
  • Publications Committee — oversees the review and publication of articles, case law digests and other content on the Society’s website and platforms
  • Membership Committee — manages membership applications, renewals and member engagement

Meet our Executives!

With over 15 years of experirence in the construction industry, our attorneys are sure to carry on the vision of the establishment of this great society.

Barr. Emmanuel Dike FICIArb

Mr. Emmanuel Dike

Chairman

Mrs.Yinka Kolade

Vice Chairman

Mr Andrew Odum

Mr. Andrew Odum SAN

Secretary

Society of Construction Law

Mr. Kolawole Mayomi

Treasurer

Ifeanyi Anago

Mr. Ifeanyi Anago

Member

Society of Construction Law

Chief Okey Jim Nwagbara

Member

Mr. Obafemi Onashile

Member

Ordinary Members

Ordinary Members form the general membership of the Society and are its primary constituency. Ordinary Members include Full Members and Associate Members, as described in the By-laws.

Full Members are qualified professionals across any discipline relevant to construction, engineering and infrastructure law — including lawyers, arbitrators, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, project managers, developers, public sector professionals and academics. Full Members hold voting rights at General Meetings and are eligible to stand for election to the Board of Trustees and Society committees.

Associate Members are students and early-career professionals within three years of their primary qualification. They enjoy access to Society events and publications and are encouraged to progress to Full Membership upon qualifying.

Corporate Members are firms and institutions whose staff participate in the Society through a collective subscription. Up to five named individuals from a corporate member organisation are entitled to Full Member benefits.

SCLN’s membership spans lawyers in private practice and in-house, civil and structural engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, project managers, and professionals in the energy, roads, airports, water and housing sectors. The Society actively seeks to maintain a balance between legal and non-legal members, in recognition that construction law is most effectively developed and practised through multidisciplinary engagement.