Prof. Abiola Sanni (Abiola) is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Commercial Law in the University of Lagos (UNILAG), with a specialization in Arbitration, Taxation and Commercial Law and Practice. He was born on the 5th of June, 1965 to the family of late Pa Samuel Eluwole Sanni of Ilara Compound, Obalufon and Late Mrs Comfort Elutidoye popularly known as Iya Opa from Ile-Opa Compound, Edena.

His story continues to inspire many young boys and girls of Ife who look up to him as a mentor. He is a Patron to NIDSA National and NIDSA OAU Chapter. He was and still involved in a number of grassroots programmes for youth development and church planting in Ile Ife. He serves on Ife Summit (“Ooni Npe o”) Initiative, Ife Progress and Development Movement (IPDM) and a Trustee of Ife Community Development Foundation.

He attended St. Murumba Catholic Primary School, Ile-Ife (1970-1976), St Lawrence’s Catholic Grammar School, Ilesa for his secondary school (1978-1983) and Oyo State College of Arts & Science (1983-1985). He started his teaching career at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1991 and transferred his service to UNILAG in 1999. In 2003, he won the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship and completed a 10-month Fellowship in the International Tax Programme of the Beasley School of Law, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA where he was also appointed a Research Fellow of the Institute of International Law and Policy.

Prof. Abiola acquired his Doctorate degree in Commercial Law (Taxation) from the University of Lagos in 2010 and was appointed an Associate Professor in 2013. In 2016, he had the singular honour of being simultaneously appointed as a Professor of Commercial Law and occupier of a Professorial Chair endowed by Lagos State in the University of Lagos for the Advancement of Taxation and Fiscal Matters. This has interestingly earned him the sobriquet of “a Double Professor”, perhaps, the first in UNILAG especially in recent times.

Prof. Abiola is a thought leader and thoroughbred professional with a multidisciplinary background. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICARB) and a life member of the Nigerian Society of International Law (NSIL). Since 2011, he has been involved in international arbitration under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Rules and a number of domestic arbitration. He is also a resource person for the Fellowship training programmes of NICARB.

He has served the Federal Government of Nigeria in different capacities as a professional. He is a member of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policies and Tax Reforms, a member of the Governing Board of Council of Legal Education, a member of the Tax Advisory Committee (TAC) “Think-Tank” Group for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He served as the Chairman of the National Tax Policy Review Committee (NTPRC) in 2016. Contrary to the infamous tradition where reports of committees are subtly discarded, he was appointed the Chairman of National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC) in 2017 to implement the key recommendations of the Revised National Tax Policy.

Prof. Abiola is a stickler for sound corporate governance in the corporate arena where he is opportune to serve.

He maintains a work-life balance through social and sporting activities. He works out regularly, plays table and lawn tennis. He is a member of the FS Club, Octagon 90, Ikoyi Club 1938, Ife Recreation Club, Science Boys, House of Commons and Staff Club of University of Lagos. He is a child of God in a blessed union with Princess Olusola Amoke Sanni – a union blessed with adorable children and grandchildren.