Our face of the week this week is Oloruntuyi Oluwaseun Emmanuel (Emmanuel San) a 400 level law student of the Noble Faculty of Law, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.
He is a passionate Students whose interest is to explore the legal professional across national boundary and contribute his quota to the development of the society, the country and the globe at large.
In 2021, He was appointed as by the former president of Law Student's Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) in person of Sen. Micheal Arinze as the Chief Media and communication specialist.
He was also appointed in February 2023 as the Ondo State Director of Law Student's Association of Nigeria, a position which he currently holds.
He has written articles on the Use of Nuclear weapons in armed conflict which was published by Barrister NG and Admiralty in International law where he divulged the importance of United Nations Convention of Law of the Sea in international Maritime activities.
Interview.
LK: Why did you choose law as a course of study?
FOTW: What a great question. Actually, my unwavering zeal to study law was birthed when I read a Lantern Series Novel which was the life story of Chief Obafemi Awolowo the former premier of the western region, how he went abroad to study law and he came back to fight for the liberation of Nigeria from western imperialists..
My zeal was also fueled by the humanitarian activities of some lawyers I later got to know, the likes of Chief Oluwole Olanipekun SAN and Chief Femi Falana their immense contribution to the society and humanitarian activities gave me the hope of attaining such height.
LK: If not law what else?
FOTW: Well if not law then I will opt for political science.
That would be my second choice
LK: What is your favourite aspect of law and why?
FOTW: Well before I got admitted into the university especially when I was in JSS 1 I used to watch international news stations Al-Jazeera and BBC to be specific and I got to know most of the things happening in the world, I followed the Gaza and Israel Crisis which happened in 2009, how Israel armed forces engaged the Palestinians in armed conflict, one of the most interesting parts of it was when I watched the United Nations General Assembly meeting and I was thrilled and wants to know more about them, how they operate.. This was the beginning of my sojourn in international affairs, I read international news magazines just to avail myself of past and present international activities.
Actually, before I was admitted I had researched different aspects of law then I came across International law, how International law can be applied in transnational affairs, laws, treaties, and conventions that govern international and transboundary affairs.. immediately I fell in love with international law and I wanted to know more about it.
International law is my favorite aspect of law
LK:With the current state of the country, do you think there is a place for you to practice in the field you love?
FOTW: Well, to be candid with you there are still some places I can practice as an international law expert, the United Nations office here in Abuja, Amnesty International, ICRC, and the host of other governmental and Non governmental organizations I can work within this country
But my place is to go overseas and be grounded in International law together with the experience I will have over there I will be able to make something up as an International law expert and probably land a big job in one of the organs of the United Nations because that my dream and what I'm working towards right now.
LK:With the rapid climate change and conditions such as global warming, how do you think the law can come in?
FOTW: Well, as an International law enthusiast in my several months of research it occurred to me that Climate Change and global warming which is caused by methane and burning of fossil fuels is part of the crisis affecting our climate system and the ozone layer,
The United Nations foreseeing the negative effect our daily activities will have on our climate system started taking steps to curb this and help countries sustain their climate system, the first United Nations Conference on Human Environmental was the Stockholm Conference of 1972 which was held in Stockholm, Sweden where world leaders came together to discuss climate change and environment, this was the first-ever conference on environment.. another conference that was organized by the United Nations on environment was the Rio Conference in 1992 which was held in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.
Considering the importance of the environment and the need for every country to take her environment as her priority, treaties, and conventions were formulated to help countries solve their environmental issues and set standards for the protection of our environment, Let's take a look at some conventions which seek to help in causing environmental hazards, BASEL CONVENTION
ON THE CONTROL OF TRANSBOUNDARY
MOVEMENTS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
AND THEIR DISPOSAL is an international convention that prohibits the transportation of chemical and hazardous wastes between countries, Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is also a convention that will see to the protection of our ozone layer
and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
There are also conventions on the protection of the Environment Natural Resources and Biological Diversity.
The first I will put forward is the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, this convention places the onus of Protecting natural resources and biological diversity on party states, this convention on Biological Diversity states the need to have a diversity of species in animals, fishes, trees and other natural resources.
We also have the United Nations Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna, this is a convention that will see to the preservation of wild flora and fauna from illegal exportation of animals that fall into this category, Now coming back to our continent we also have the convention that guild our environment, African Convention on the conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is a convention made by the African Union to protect African environment and Natural Resources.
The recently concluded COP28 which took place in UAE was the largest-ever convergence of world leaders to place climate change and Sustainable development as the top priority of the globe.
These are conventions and treaties that states must adhere to to have an environment free from environmental hazards.
There are some instances where the court also affirm the need for environmental protection and climate change, One of my respectable judge of the International Court of Justice as a statement made by Justice Shwebel who was the former president of the International Court of Justice when he was making his obiter in the 1996 Advisory Opinion on the legality of the use of nuclear weapons in international law said States during armed conflict should desist from using weapons that will cause environmental hazards, this has always been a precedent laid by an international court.
Lastly, the Trail Smelter case The Trail Smelter decision has shaped the core principle underlying international environmental law, According to this principle, a country that creates transboundary pollution or some other environmentally hazardous effect is liable for the harm this causes, either directly or indirectly, to another country.
There are conventions and treaties concerning Climate Change, global warming, biodiversity, and our conservative nature and Natural Resources, state parties must adhere to these treaties and conventions so that we can have a better world free from pollution and other environmental hazards.
LK: What are your expectations for the legal profession both in Nigeria and internationally?
FOTW:Well, since the world is evolving and different things surface every both in Nigeria and internationally I expect that more areas should be created for young lawyers like us to practice without hindrance..
And I'm happy that this is beginning to happen, we have new areas of law where lawyers are now making it for example Tech Law is a very good aspect of the law, Maritime which is also known as Admiralty is a very lucrative aspect to explore, Intellectual property, Sports Law, taxation, Entertainment Law, Energy Law, arbitration Law to mention but a few
These are my expectations and I'm really happy that in the near future more aspects will be introduced and lawyers won't find it difficult to explore because the sky is enough for everyone to fly.
LK: Lastly, any advice for junior colleagues or aspiring law students in their academic pursuits?
FOTW: Actually to be sincere with you I love how LSS has transformed, I was so amazed seeing 100-level and 200-level partake in moot and mock competitions and do things that impress me, I really love it, never the less my advice to junior colleagues advice is that law is a very wide field and very lucrative they should keep working hard, this also goes to myself I need to improve in various aspects which I'm currently working on now and I hope with our efforts we will make things right. For law aspirants, they should be dedicated and zealous this is what makes law Students outstanding.
LK: It was nice catching up with you, thanks for your time.
FOTW: Likewise.
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