Dr Godswill Agbaitoro
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Email
g.agbaitoro@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 872892
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Location
4SB.4.8, Colchester Campus
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Academic support hours
Mondays 2-3pm
Profile
Biography
Godswill is a lecturer at Essex Law School, and his research primarily relates to implementing the energy justice framework in the Global South. His PhD research, funded by the University of Essex, explores the extent to which principles embedded in the energy justice framework can be deployed as a strategic tool for addressing energy access and poverty challenges, including the articulation of providing just energy systems. Godswill was a Visiting Researcher in 2019 at the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC), Texas, United States. His prior work experience includes practicing as a lawyer following his qualification as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011, working as a research assistant to the Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Nigeria, and serving as a peer-reviewer for Journal of African Law (Cambridge University Press), Environmental Law Review (SAGE Publications), and Commonwealth Law Bulletin (Routledge). He received a Master of Laws (LLM), Oil and Gas Law, 2014, University of Aberdeen, UK, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), 2010, Madonna University, Nigeria. He is presently a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Society of Legal Scholars, an Associate Editor of the Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK. Godswill's teaching and research interests include International Environmental Law and Sustainability, Oil and Gas Law: Contracting, Oil and Gas Law: State Control, Oil and Gas Law: Regulation, Energy Justice and Transition in the Global South, Corporate Social Responsibility in Extractive and Energy Industries, Climate Justice in the Global South, Natural Resource Governance, Contract Law, and Foundations of Public Law.
Qualifications
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PhD University of Essex,
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LLM University of Aberdeen,
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BL Nigerian Law School,
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LLB Madonna University,
Appointments
University of Essex
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Lecturer in Law, University of Essex (1/9/2021 - present)
Other academic
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Visiting Fellow, Law, University of Bayreuth (28/4/2025 - 17/5/2025)
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Sessional Law Tutor, University of Essex International College (2/9/2019 - 16/8/2021)
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Assistant Lecturer, Law, University of Essex (28/1/2019 - 30/4/2020)
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Visiting Researcher, Law, University of Houston (1/8/2019 - 27/9/2019)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Energy and Climate Justice: Global South Perspectives; International Environmental Law and Sustainability; Just Energy Transition; Oil and Gas Law; Natural Resource Governance
Energy Justice: Global South Perspective
Energy Transitions and Law in Africa
Environmental Justice and Law in Africa and the Global South
Current research
Developing an Interdisciplinary Framework to Combat Food Waste in the UK Seafood Supply Chain (University of Essex PVC-R Strategic Fund 2021/22)
Laying the legal foundation for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (Investment Mechanisms) Eastern Arc Funded Workshop 2022
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Contract Law (LW101)
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Justice (LW234)
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International Environmental Law (LW356)
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Human Rights, Development and the Environment (LW915)
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International Environmental Law and Sustainability (LW928)
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Corporate Responsibility and Business Law (LW941)
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Public Law (LW103)
Current supervision
Publications
Journal articles (15)
Agbaitoro, G., Book Review: Geer Van Calster and Leonie Reins, eds., The Paris Agreement on Climate Change: A Commentary (Edward Elgar 2021), 17/2 Law, Environment and Development Journal (2021), p. 211. LEAD Journal (Law, Environment and Development Journal). 17 (2)
Misra, S. and Agbaitoro, G., (2025). Mapping Human Rights Violations Connected to Renewable Energy Development in India: A Case Study of the “Oran Land” at Thar Desert and Energy Transition. Business and Human Rights Journal. 10 (1), 249-259
Agbaitoro, G. and Ekhator, E., (2025). Just Energy Transition in Africa: Towards Social Inclusion and Environmental Rights-based Imperatives. Business and Human Rights Journal. 10 (1), 34-55
Agbaitoro, G., Hulme, K. and Wewerinke-Singh, M., (2024). Editorial: Energy Justice Discourse: Global South Perspectives. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law. 42 (3), 251-254
Agbaitoro, G., (2024). Implementing Energy Justice through Corporate Social Responsibility of Multinational Corporations in Energy and Extractive Industries: Old Body in New Robes. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law. 42 (3), 423-447
Kaime, T. and Agbaitoro, G., (2023). An Energy Justice Approach to Resolving the Conflict between the Development of Energy Access Projects and Human Rights Risks and Violations in Africa: Can a Balance be Struck?. Global Energy Law and Sustainability. 3 (1), 39-71
Agbaitoro, G. and Oyibo, K., (2022). Realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13 in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030: Synergizing Energy and Climate Justice Perspectives. Journal of World Energy Law and Business. 15 (3), 223-235
Faturoti, B., Agbaitoro, G. and Onya, O., (2019). Environmental Protection in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry and Jonah Gbemre v Shell PDC Nigeria Limited: Let the Plunder Continue?. African Journal of International and Comparative Law. 27 (2), 225-245
Agbaitoro, G., (2019). Legal strategy for resolving the socio-economic and environmental symptoms of the resource curse in Nigeria: the role of impact and benefit agreements (IBAs). Commonwealth Law Bulletin. 44 (3), 381-399
Agbaitoro, G., (2018). Enforcing Constitutional Environmental Rights in Court: A Comparative Analysis of Nigeria and India. Miyetti Quarterly Law Review. 3 (1), 119-150
Agbaitoro, G. and Kejeh, N., (2017). Moving Towards Robust Governance Regime for the Decommissioning of Offshore Energy Installations in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry. Miyetti Quarterly Law Review. 2 (3), 99-127
Agbaitoro, G., Amakoromo, M. and Wifa, E., (2017). Enforcement challenges in the protection of the environment from upstream petroleum operations in Nigeria: the need for judicial independence. International Energy Law Review. 2017 (3), 85-93
Agbaitoro, G. and Ojong-Okongor, E., (2017). Resolving the Implications of Maritime Boundary and Delimitation Disputes on Oil and Gas Industry Growth and Development in the West African sub-Region: The Way Forward. Oil, Gas and Energy Law. 2017 (1)
Agbaitoro, G., (2017). Is Having a Robust Energy Mix a Panacea for Resolving the Energy Crisis in Nigeria?. Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review. 7 (4), 7-16
Amakoromo, M. and Agbaitoro, G., (2016). Reforming the Regulatory Framework for Offshore Health and Safety in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry: Lessons from the United Kingdom. Oil, Gas and Energy Law (4)
Books (1)
Agbaitoro, G. and Ogbumgbada, C., (2026). Energy Justice Litigation: International and Domestic Perspectives (Forthcoming). Springer
Book chapters (6)
Agbaitoro, G. and Van den Berg, HM., (2026). Land Tenure, Project Siting and Environmental Aspects of Distributed Energy Resources: An Energy Justice Approach. In: Sustainable Distributed Energy Resources: Law and Policy (Forthcoming). Editors: Castiella, ÍDG., Olawuyi, D., Montoya, MF., González Márquez, JJ. and Fontenelle, LD., . Oxford University Press
Oyibo, K. and Agbaitoro, G., (2025). Balancing Energy Security and Climate Change Goals through Energy Efficiency and Sufficiency Tools for A Degrowth Economy in sub-Saharan Africa. In: Law for a Post-growth Era: Global Perspectives on Environmental, Human Rights and Economic Law (Forthcoming). Editors: Ohdedar, B., Bueno De Mesquita, J., Chirwa, D., Fyock, C. and Madhav, R., . Edward Elgar
Ekhator, E. and Agbaitoro, G., (2024). Placing the Rule of Law and Environmental Justice in the Resource-Conflict Nexus in Nigeria. In: Governing Natural Resources for Sustainable Peace in Africa: Environmental Justice and Conflict Resolution. Editors: Okoi, O. and Nalule, V., . Routledge. 145- 168. 9781032409917
Egbon, O., Nwoke, U. and Agbaitoro, G., (2024). Corporate social responsibility practices in the Nigerian oil industry: New legal direction and the implications for reporting. In: Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure in Developing and Emerging Economies Institutional, Governance and Regulatory Issues. Editors: Nwagbara, U., Idowu, SO. and Alhassan, Y., . Springer. 3- 20. 978-3-031-61976-2
Ekhator, E. and Agbaitoro, G., (2019). Energy Law and Policy in Nigeria with Reflection on the International Energy Charter and Domestication of the African Charter. In: Governance in Nigeria post-1999: Revisiting the democratic ‘new dawn’ of the Fourth Republic. Editors: Adeola, R. and Jegede, AO., . Pretoria University Law Press
Agbaitoro, G., (2019). Renewable Energy Development: A Panacea for Resolving the Energy Crisis in Nigeria. In: Beyond Fossil Fuels: Renewable Energy Law and Policy. Editors: Atsegbua, L. and Daudu, S., . Fifers Lane Publishers. 978-978-57146-0-9
Thesis dissertation (1)
Agbaitoro, GA., (2023). Resolving Energy Challenges: Implementing and Evaluating an Energy Justice Framework for Nigeria
Other (2)
Ogbumgbada, C., Amakoromo, M. and Agbaitoro, G., (2025).Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change - Call for inputs - Fossil Fuel-based Economy and Human Rights
Agbaitoro, G., (2021).Delivering Energy and Climate Justice in Africa: Implications for Realizing the United Nations SDGs 7 and 13,Essex Law Research Blog
Grants and funding
2024
The Role of Local Informal Institutions in the Implementation of Effective Corporate Social Responsibility Policies in Nigeria
British Academy
Contact
Academic support hours:
Mondays 2-3pm
