Olufemi (“Femi”) Oyewole has been officially sworn in as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Abuja. At 34 years old, Femi Oyewole is recognized as Nigeria’s joint-youngest SAN ever. He is a leading commercial litigator with an impressive record in handling high-value and complex commercial disputes. He is also a Partner at TEMPLARS, joining a distinguished group of partners from the same firm who have attained the SAN rank, including Adewale Atake (2018), Godwin Omoaka (2019), and Inam Wilson (2022). Femi’s prominence in the legal community is further highlighted by the fact that he is the son of a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
Historically, the youngest person to become a SAN in Nigeria was Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, who was also elevated at the age of 34. Atoyebi, a graduate of the University of Ilorin, was conferred with the SAN title in 2019 and was celebrated as the youngest Nigerian lawyer to reach this professional pinnacle. He is widely known as a managing partner and a specialist in information technology law, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity law.
Another notable young SAN is Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, who made history as the youngest academic to be elevated to the rank of SAN at age 37. Olawuyi is a full professor of law with an impressive international academic and professional record, including teaching in over 50 countries and serving as a consultant to major global institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank.
In summary, Olufemi Oyewole’s rise to SAN at 34 now ties him with Muyiwa Atoyebi as the youngest SANs in Nigeria’s legal history. This achievement marks a new milestone in professional excellence for young Nigerian lawyers, with other notable figures like the academic trailblazer Damilola Olawuyi also distinguished for his scholarly contributions.