Kathleen Ebelechukwu Okafor

Kathleen Ebelechukwu Okafor (born c. 1956) is a Nigerian professor of property and commercial law, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the acting Vice Chancellor of Baze University in Abuja. She was appointed to the role in August 2023 following the elevation of the previous Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to the position of Minister of Education in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. Okafor is recognized for her expertise in corporate and industrial law, as well as her contributions to legal education and women's leadership in academia.

Early Life and Education

Kathleen Okafor was born around 1956 in Enugu State, Nigeria. She completed her O'Level examinations at Queens School, Enugu. She earned her LL.B. degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1974. Following this, she attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos campus, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1979.

She pursued advanced studies abroad and in Nigeria, obtaining an LL.M. from University College London in 1981. Okafor later completed her Ph.D. in Law from the University of Lagos in 2000. In September 2022, she was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee.

Career

Okafor began her professional legal career with a brief stint at the chambers of Lateef Adegbite & Co. She then served as second counsel at Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria. Subsequently, she advanced to the role of Legal Adviser and Company Secretary at the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM), where she contributed to corporate governance and legal compliance in the public sector.

In academia, Okafor joined Baze University as a professor in the Faculty of Law, specializing in property, commercial, corporate, and industrial law. She held key leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairperson of the Faculty of Law Welfare Committee. Under her deanship, the faculty emphasized practical legal training, research in commercial law, and student welfare initiatives.

In August 2023, the Baze University Governing Council appointed Okafor as Acting Vice Chancellor, effective immediately after Prof. Tahir Mamman's departure to the federal cabinet. As of October 2025, she continues in this capacity, overseeing university operations, academic programs, and strategic development. During her tenure, she has addressed student issues such as career guidance, mental health, and anti-trafficking awareness, including speaking at the 6th Baze University Career Week in October 2024 on cyberbullying and sextortion.

Okafor is also an active scholar and commentator on gender issues in corporate leadership, having authored articles on meritocracy, the "iron-lady syndrome," and workplace politics for women professionals. She serves on editorial boards, including the Baze University Journal of Entrepreneurship & Interdisciplinary Studies.

Personal Life

Details about Okafor's personal life, including family, remain private. She is based in Abuja, where Baze University is located, and is known for her mentorship of female students and academics in law.

Awards and Honors

• Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) (2022) – Conferred for distinguished contributions to legal practice and scholarship.

References

• Wikipedia contributors. "Kathleen Okafor." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Updated 18 January 2025.
• "NACAT Sensitizes University Students on Sextortion, Trafficking." The News Chronicle, 11 October 2024.
• Okafor, Kathleen E. "Women: Meritocracy, Iron-lady Syndrome and Corporate Politics." Extraordinaire People News, 30 March 2022.
• Baze University Staff Profile. Accessed 5 October 2025.

External Links

• Baze University Website(https://bazeuniversity.edu.ng/)
• Baze University Staff Directory(https://bazeuniversity.edu.ng/search/staff.php?id=MjV2M0lIVFFiVmlVNm0veGVRS0htZz09)