Dr Eddy Lenusira Wifa
Senior Law Lecturer
Tell us about your role at the University and how your background influences your work. 
I am a Senior Law Lecturer and the Postgraduate Taught Coordinator. I am also Co-Convener of the Global South Law Research Network. I come from an oil and gas law background and that was largely influenced by my experiences growing up in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. I experienced a situation where there was very little economic development, despite enormous oil-wealth. It was not until I did my LLM in Aberdeen that the region and indeed the country was experiencing the resource curse. Those experiences caused me to view natural resource law and governance differently, but it also led me to exploring the role of law in the governance of emerging energy technologies like offshore wind. This became the focus of my PhD and what takes most of my research priority.
How do you usually start your day?
My typical day would start off with me dropping off the kids at school and getting to my office with a cup of coffee. I would say hello to colleagues and attend to emails. This is usually how my day starts when I am not teaching first thing in the morning.
What brought you to join the University of Aberdeen?
I came to do my LLM in oil and gas back in 2013. I graduated in 2014 and was fortunate to get a PhD studentship from the University. I completed my PhD in 2019 but was already a Teaching Fellow. I then became a full-time Lecturer in 2020. So, you could say my LLM brought me to University of Aberdeen as a student but the quality of teaching, research and the people has kept me as staff.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I really enjoy working with excellent colleagues as we teach and research together. I also enjoy the satisfaction on students’ faces and their success stories. To see that you have a small part in their story is fulfilling. Some have asked me what I enjoy the most between teaching and research. It is hard to tell as they both achieve different objectives while being quite interconnected. It is a difficult one, academia has so many components, but I also love attending conferences and networking. So it is difficult for me to have a favourite.
What are your current work priorities?
I am currently prioritising the completion of two books and other research projects. One is a co-authored cook on offshore wind safety and the other is an edited volume of offshore energy and law. I am also giving my new position as PGT Coordinator some priority as well. We have just recently formed the Global South Law Research Network and my colleagues and I are looking to see that grow.
How do you like to relax outside of work, and are there any cultural traditions you enjoy incorporating into your downtime?
In terms of relaxation, I go home to my family and they help me unwind. I have got two girls, Zina and Mimi, and my lovely wife Uma, so it is always lovely to get back home to them. We all unwind by watching cooking TV shows together. I enjoy cooking but do not expect any Michelin star meals from me. I also try to do some DIY but nothing too complex for now.
23 October 2024