Timi Olagunju

Timi Olagunju
Born	Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Other names	Timithelaw
Education	University of Ibadan (LLB) Harvard University, (MPA)
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, writer
Years active	2010s-present
Awards	Mandela Washington Fellows

Timi Olagunju also known as Timithelaw is a Nigerian lawyer and writer. ^[1]

Biography

Olagunju was born in Ibadan, Oyo State where he also grew up. He graduated in 2009 from the University of Ibadan with Bachelor of laws degree, he then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Agbani Campus, Enugu, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2011. He then proceeded to Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government where he completed a Master of Public Administration, graduating as an Edward S. Mason Fellow. ^{[2] [3]} Olagunju also attended trainings at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business on strategic leadership in 2015, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on AI and Society in 2024. ^[4]

As a writer, his works has appeared in the Your Commonwealth, ^[5] Harvard University, ^[6] The Punch, TheCable, Irish Tech News, ^[7] The Africa Report , BusinessDay, amongst others. ^[8]

In 2018, he covered The Guardian. ^[9] Olagunju is a recipient of several awards including the Mandela Washington Fellow and the Presidential Precinct (2015), ^{[10] [11] [12]} The Power List (2020) by Ynaija, ^[13] Ooni of Ife Royal Award for Impact (2020), ^[14] and the Internet Society Fellow (2024). ^[15] His works has also been recognized by US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, ^[16] US embassy in Nigeria, BellaNaija amongst others. ^{[17] [18]} In 2016, he was interviewed by Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media under president Barack Obama and has since been interviewed by notable platforms including Wazobia TV, Channels TV, TVC News Nigeria, and in conversation with Big Brother Nigeria host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. ^{[19] [20]}

In 2021, he was appointed Global Vice President and Africa’s representative of the Generation Democracy organized by International Republican Institute, ^[21] the same year he served as a research contributor, Berkman Klein Center at Harvard Law School on Digital Self-Determination. ^[22] As a speaker, Olagunju has spoken in numerous platforms including the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum, MKAI in the United Kingdom, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, and TedX amongst others. ^[23]

References

1. Akinyele, Shola; Shola, Akinyele (2025-06-04). "How One Nigerian Scholar Beat an 8-Year Transcript Nightmare to Graduate from Harvard and MIT". Tell Magazine . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
2. Olagunju, Timi (2025-05-03). "Who controls Nigeria's internet?". TheCable . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
3. "- THE YOUTH BULGE IN AFRICA: CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
4. Online, Tribune (2025-08-02). "Meet Timi Olagunju, TimiTheLaw". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
5. Action (2016-06-17). ""The actual cost of Free Basics in Nigeria"". YourCommonwealth. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
6. Olagunju, Timi (2025-05-27). "Why Killing OPT Hurts American Workers More Than It Helps". HKS Student Policy Review. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
7. "Three Recommendations to Nigeria's Policymakers on Blockchain Technology and Regulations. - Irish Tech News". Irish Tech News. 2018-06-10. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
8. "Muck Rack | For journalists and public relations". muckrack.com. 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
9. Praise, Billy (2018-04-08). "Advocates for Positive Change". The Guardian (Nigeria) . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
10. InsideOyo (2019-11-29). "Ibadan-born Lawyer, Timi Olagunju, Selected Among 100 Young Leaders To Launch Obama Presidential Library -" . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
11. Tijani, Mayowa (2015-10-09). "Mandela Washington fellow helps youths 'soar beyond limit'". TheCable . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
12. "Timi Olagunju". Presidential Precinct. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
13. Omoruyi, Omoleye (2020-07-31). "Adebo Ogundoyin, Israel Adesanya, Sugabelly...Here's the #YNaijaPowerList2020 for Politics, Sports and Culture » YNaija". YNaija . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
14. Nwafor (2021-06-03). "Royal African Young Leadership: Ooni honours late Arotile, Okotete, Olagunju, Omojuwa, others". Vanguard (Nigeria) . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
15. "2024 Early Career Fellows". Internet Society . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
16. "- THE YOUTH BULGE IN AFRICA: CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY". United States Congress . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
17. U.S. Mission in Nigeria (2023). "Crossroads" (PDF).
18. BellaNaija.com (2018-02-26). "Lawyer, Leadership Consultant & Good Governance Advocate! Timi Olagunju is our #BellaNaijaMCM this Week". BellaNaija . Retrieved 2025-08-18.
19. YALI Voices: Timi Olagunju , retrieved 2025-08-27
20. "Timi Olagunju: Shaping the Future of Technology, Policy, and Youth". P.M. News . Retrieved 2025-08-27.
21. Online, Tribune (2025-08-02). "Meet Timi Olagunju, TimiTheLaw". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
22. "Research sprint examines "digital self-determination" in increasingly interconnected world | Berkman Klein Center". cyber.harvard.edu. 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
23. Online, Tribune (2025-08-02). "Meet Timi Olagunju, TimiTheLaw". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2025-08-27.