On August 22, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun will officially assume the role of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who steps down at the age of 70. Justice Kekere-Ekun will be the second woman in Nigeria’s history to hold the position of CJN.

Justice Kekere-Ekun was born in London on May 7, 1958. She attended Queen’s College, Lagos, and later studied law at the University of Lagos, graduating with an LL.B between 1977 and 1980. She completed her legal training at the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in July 1981. She furthered her studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, obtaining a master’s degree in law in 1983.

Her judicial career began as a Senior Magistrate in Lagos in 1989. She was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State in 1996 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004, where she served in various divisions. In July 2013, she was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Justice Kekere-Ekun has held several key positions, including serving as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, and as a member of the Ethics Curriculum Planning Committee. She has also been involved in judicial reforms, serving on various committees and contributing to the development of the justice delivery system in Nigeria.

Justice Kekere-Ekun is married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, and they have three children. She will be taking over the leadership of the Supreme Court as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria.