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Abiola Aderibigbe | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Citizenship | British-Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of Surrey (LLB) University of Law (LPC) University of Westminster (LLM) ContentsLiverpool John Moores University (PhD cand.) |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, Solicitor |
| Known for | Advocacy for a Nigerian Construction Act |
| Board member of | The Security Institute (General Counsel, Board Director ) |
| Website | https://abiolaaderibigbe.com/ |
Abiola Oluwaseun Adeola Aderibigbe is a British-Nigerian lawyer. [1] He is a dual-qualified solicitor in England & Wales [2] and Ireland. [3] [4] He practises in construction and related sectors including energy and infrastructure, governance and international project and development finance. [1] [5]
In 2025, national newspapers profiled Aderibigbe’s proposal for a “Nigerian Construction Act”, detailing a five-pillar framework aimed at harmonising building regulations, improving safety standards, and establishing national systems like contractor grading. [6] [3]
Aderibigbe was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Nathaniel Kehinde Aderibigbe, a chartered accountant who served as Director of Accounts at the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, [7] and Olubunmi Aderibigbe (née Soyannwo), a chartered insurer. [3] [4] His late uncle, Gboyega Soyannwo, was Deputy Chief of Staff to Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu until his death in 2024. [8] [9]
He began his primary education at Grace Children's School in Gbagada, and later attended the International School, University of Lagos, before his family migrated to the United Kingdom. [3] [4]
In the United Kingdom, he completed secondary school at St. Mary's Roman Catholic High School in Croydon and A-levels at Croydon College. He went on to earn an LLB in Law from the University of Surrey. [3] [4] He completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law (Guildford) and an LLM in Corporate Finance from the University of Westminster. [3] [4]
As of 2025, Aderibigbe is a PhD candidate at Liverpool John Moores University, researching law, technology and the built environment. [3] [4]
Aderibigbe works between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He practises in construction and related sectors, including energy and infrastructure, alongside governance, compliance, NGO work, and international project and development finance, a field that encompasses multilateral development banks and development finance institutions. [1] [5] He has also held roles as a corporate executive, legal advisor, and international consultant. [1] [5]
At The Security Institute, Aderibigbe serves as General Counsel and sits on the board of directors. [10] [11] He has written on professional ethics in Security Matters magazine. [12] His academic work has been published by the Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM) and the World Construction Symposium (WCS). [13] [14]
Aderibigbe also serves as Global General Counsel at How to Change the World (HTCTW), an international social enterprise focused on experiential education for university students in sustainability. [15] [16]
He has served as Group Head of Legal & Commercial at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), the main trade association for the building engineering services sector in the United Kingdom. [17]
In academia, he lectures on international construction law at the postgraduate level and has served as Course Director and Faculty Director with professional training institutions in the UK and overseas. [18] [19]
In September 2025, Aderibigbe proposed a “Nigerian Construction Act” [20] , a five-pillar framework to harmonise building regulation, strengthen safety duties, and establish national systems such as contractor registration and grading. [21] [22]
Independent, This Day, and The Nation reported on the proposal. [20] [22] [3] Reports set it against recent building-safety incidents, including the three-storey collapse at Yaba, Lagos, and the Afriland Towers fire on Lagos Island. [23] [24] Coverage also referenced the Alimosho collapse in Lagos and the Awka collapse in Anambra State. [25] [26]
Coverage also linked the proposal to economic outcomes, stating that a predictable statutory framework could improve project bankability, attract investment, and increase government revenue. [20]
Aderibigbe described building safety as “Nigeria’s next freedom”, and commentary contrasted his national-statute approach with earlier calls for unified building codes at state level by Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. [1] [27]
He also called for a collaborative rollout of a national Contractor Registration and Grading System, inviting the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) to co-shape standards alongside the Bureau of Public Procurement. [6] [28]
Aderibigbe received the 2024 President's Award and the Customer Empathy Award from BESA. [29]
Advisory Excellence, The Lawyer Network, and Global Law Experts, collectively named him Construction & Engineering Law Expert of the Year. [29]
In 2025, Aderibigbe was named among the Top 10 Exceptional Professionals of the Year in Law at The Iconic Brand Africa Awards (TIBA Awards), held in Lagos, Nigeria. [29]