Professor Dapo Akande awarded commendation by the Ambassador of Japan

Last week Dapo Akande, Chichele Professor of Public International Law, was awarded a commendation by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United Kingdom, Hajime Hayashi.

The Ambassador's Commendation was awarded to Professor Akande "for his outstanding contribution to the progressive development of international law and his tremendous support for Japan’s efforts in strengthening the rule of law."  

At the award ceremony at the Embassy of Japan, Ambassador Hayashi noted Professor Akande's participation in the work of international organizations including his membership of the UN International Law Commission, his briefings to the UN Security Council and his global educational efforts in public international law to the next generation of international legal scholars and practitioners. The occasion was celebrated by a dinner attended by family, friends and colleagues, including Professor Vaughan Lowe KC, Emeritus Chichele Professor of Public International Law; Sir Frank Berman KCMG KC, Visiting Professor of International Law and Sally Langrish, Director General and Legal Adviser at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Officer. 

Professor Akande has played a fundamental role in the continuing development of international law through his long-standing research, practice and teaching activities in the field of public international law, including serving as a member of the UN Commission on International Law with Professor ASADA Masahiko of Doshisha University. Last year, Professor Akande contributed to Japan’s efforts to promote a free and open international order based on the rule of law through activities such as offering briefings at the UN Security Council Ministerial Open Debate on the Rule of Law, hosted by Japan, and delivering a keynote speech at the first Tokyo Seminar on International Law.