The Chancellor

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, OFR, SAN

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama stands as an emblem of legal brilliance, visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to national growth. His appointment as Chancellor of Newgate University Minna signals a transformative era marked by academic excellence, ethical grounding and progressive leadership.

A trailblazer in legal practice and arbitration

Chief Gadzama began his distinguished legal journey at the University of Maiduguri, graduating in 1985 as the best student in the Common Law Department. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, he made history in 1998 by becoming the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the University of Maiduguri and the entire North-Eastern region.

He pursued a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from Keble College, Oxford University (2006), and further studied at the Institute for Public-Private Partnerships in Washington, D.C., and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

As the Founding Principal Partner of J-K Gadzama LLP, he has provided legal counsel to a wide spectrum of clients, including multinational corporations and key government agencies. He has served notably as Lead Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Legal Consultant to the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

Champion of alternative dispute resolution

A Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, he has contributed immensely to the evolution of ADR in Nigeria. He chairs the Board of Trustees of the Janada International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (JICAM) and actively engages in global arbitration forums.

National and traditional honours

His service has earned him the national honours of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He holds traditional titles including Shettima Ilmuye of Borno, Sardauna of Uba and Bobajiro of Akure Kingdom. He was also honoured with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Sokoto Platinum Leadership Award by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria.

Mentor and advocate for legal education

As Chairman of the Mentoring Committee for Young Lawyers under the Body of Benchers, he plays a vital role in shaping future legal minds, with an emphasis on innovation, technology integration and professional ethics.

Chancellor of Newgate University Minna

In his role as Chancellor, Chief Gadzama brings unmatched expertise, a global perspective and a passion for excellence. Under his guidance, the institution is poised to nurture the next generation of thinkers, professionals and changemakers.