Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, OFR
H. Odein Ajumogobia is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University.
He was Minister of State Petroleum Resources between 2007 and 2009, and minister of Foreign Affairs from April 2010 to July 2011. He was also Head of Nigeria’s delegation to OPEC from July 2007 to December 2008.
Mr H. O. Ajumogobia’s career began as a teaching assistant in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (1979–80); Associate, Fred Egbe & Co, Barristers & Solicitors (1980–83); Founding/Senior Partner, Ajumogobia and Okeke, Barristers & Solicitors- one of the leading business & investment law firms in Nigeria (since 1984); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (1996); Member ICC Court of Arbitration and Commission of Arbitration; (2001-2006);
Ajumogobia became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2003, and was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice for Rivers State in 2003. Member, Council of Legal Education; Member Executive Committee of NBA; Member, Body of Benchers (2003- 2007); Chairman, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (2005-2007); Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum) and Head of Nigeria’s Delegation to OPEC (July 2007-December 2008); He was appointed Minister of State of Petroleum Resources and Supervising Minister Ministry of Power and Head of Nigeria’s delegation to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) (January 2009-March 2010); Member National Economic Management Team; Member, Honorary Investment Council; Member, National Privatisation Council; Member, National Independent Power Programme; (2007- 2010) Minister of Foreign Affairs (April 2010 – May 2011): Member, National Security Council, President UN Security Council (2010) Chairman Council of Ministers of Ecowas States; Co- Chairman (with H.E. Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain of Political Dialogue between EU and ECOWAS Luxembourg (2010); Co-Chairman (with H.E. George Rebela Chicoti Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola), International Contact Group on Guinea Bissau at UNGA (September 2010).
Mr Ajumogobia academic records include: LL.B (Lagos) (Faculty Prizes for best graduating student, and subject prizes; Federal Government of Nigeria merit award for Academic Excellence at the University of Lagos) [1975-1978]; B.L Nigeria Law School (1979); LL.M (Harvard) (1988) University of Lagos Law Society Award for distinction in the legal profession; Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London 1996); LL.D (Honoris Causa) Rivers State University of Science and Technology (2012).
He is married to Awuneba Ajumogobia FCA (née Iketubosin). They have a son and three daughters.