2009 Executive Officers | The Nigerian Lawyers Association

Emeka Chinwuba is an associate in the Finance Group of Shearman & Sterling LLP’s New York office. He attended Columbia University School of Law, where he obtained his Masters of Laws degree in 2006 and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2000), graduating with upper class honors (magna cum laude). He started his legal career at the Lagos office of Olaniwun Ajayi & Co. and is admitted to the Nigerian Bar and the New York State Bar. In addition to his work at the NLA, Mr. Chinwuba serves the community through his involvement in various pro bono projects such as Lawyers without Borders - Liberian case law review and summary, and the Family Court Project at Kings County Court Brooklyn.

Folake Ayoola is an associate in the Securities and Capital Markets Group of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s New York office. She attended the Columbia University School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Laws degrees in 2004 and 2002, respectively. At the Columbia School of Law, she was, among other distinctions, a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Parker School Certificate for Achievement in International & Comparative Law awardee. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University College London, University of London (2000), graduating with upper class honors (magna cum laude). She started her legal career at the Houston office of Baker Botts LLP and is admitted to the New York State Bar and the Texas State Bar. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, Houston Bar Association and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. Ms. Ayoola was the President of African Professional Organization in Houston and a former Director of The Endeavor for Hope Foundation, a U.S. based charitable organization. She is also a mentor for the Dress for Success Houston Woman to Woman Mentoring Program.

Ekwutozia Nwabuzor is a corporate associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP's New York office. She graduated in the top eight percent of her class from Howard University School of Law in 2007. While at Howard Law, she served as a senior articles editor of the Howard Law Journal, Dean's Fellow, and president of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc., Alpha Chapter. She received CALI Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Conflict of Laws, International Law of Human Rights, Legal Drafting and Legal Writing II. Ms. Nwabuzor was also a recipient of the Olender Foundation's Earl H. Davis Scholarship in recognition of her leadership and public service. She authored The Cry of the Colossus: Discipio v. Ashcroft, Nonacquiescence, and Judicial Deference in Immigration Law, 50 How. L.J. 575 (2007). She currently serves as treasurer of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc., National Chapter and the Howard University School of Law Alumni Club of New York. Ms. Nwabuzor graduated with honors from the College of the Holy Cross in 1996 with a B.A. in English. She is a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is pending admission to the New York Bar.

Courage Otaigbe is a corporate associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP's New York office. She attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2007 and holds a Certificate in Business and Public Policy from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (2007). She obtained a Master of Science in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh (2003) and a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Computer Information Systems from Strayer University (2001). While at the University of Pittsburgh, she was a volunteer tutor for the Pittsburgh Project, an organization that, among other activities, operates afterschool and summer programs for urban youth. At the University of Pennsylvania, she participated in Penn Law Christian Legal Aid's pro bono clinic. In addition to her work with NLA, Ms. Otaigbe has also been involved in pro bono work with organizations such as the Seedco Clinic, which provides legal assistance to small business owners, and Election Protection, a nonpartisan voter protection coalition. She is also a mentor for Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program, Inc. (PALS), an organization that connects attorneys with minority law students as mentors. Ms. Otaigbe is a member of the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. She is admitted to the New York Bar.

Uzoma Eze Uzoma Eze runs his private practice in downtown New York City. His firm, the Law Offices of Uzoma Alex Eze, specializes in Corporate Law, Financing, Commercial Litigation, Tax Law, Not-for-Profits and Bankruptcy. Uzoma attended Fordham University School of law, where he obtained his Juris Doctorate degree in 2006, and Norfolk State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Accounting in 1998. He started his legal career as an associate in the Tax Group of Shearman & Sterling LLP's New York office. He is admitted to the New York State Bar, the United States Tax Court and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern districts of New York. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and a member of the New York City Bar Association where he serves as a member of the not-for-profit committee. At Fordham Law School, he was the Editor of the Fordham Journal of Corporate and Financial Law. Uzoma is also a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A).

Adedayo Soneye holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos (2002) and a Masters of Laws degree from Fordham University School of law (2006). He is admitted to Nigerian Bar and the New York Bar. Mr. Soneye is also a member of the New York City Bar and the New York County Lawyers Association.