IN SHORT

Known throughout Africa as “The Father of Human Rights,” Olisa Agbakoba will be remembered as one of Nigeria’s foremost human rights activists. In his quest to free Nigerians from greed and hypocrisy, he has persevered through bloodshed and prison time to become the founder of the Civil Liberties Organization and the NGO Human Rights Law Services. Alongside his human rights campaign, Agbakoba has also cultivated a monumental career in Maritime Law. He founded the Nigerian Shipping Chamber of Commerce and is the founding partner of Olisa Agbakoba & Associates. “What drives me is excellence – for Nigeria to be excellent,” he says. “I cannot stand incompetence and disloyalty, especially in a country of such great opportunity.”