Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro

Dr Matthew is a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, Niger Delta University.  He also works as a consultant on development projects in Africa, especially in the area of governance.  He is currently the Senior Research and Social Norms Advisor on the UKAID-funded Monitoring of Recovered Assets Through Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA) Project, implemented by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, which is designed to improve the legal and institutional framework for asset recovery and management in Nigeria

Dr. Matthew completed his PhD on rights-based approaches to governance and anticorruption in sub-Saharan Africa at the University of Birmingham in 2017.  He also holds an LLM in Law and Development and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Economic Law from the University of London.  Prior to this, Matthew graduated as valedictorian of the class of ’09 from Niger Delta University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012, having completed his training in the Nigerian Law School.

Matthew is a member of several professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, International Dispute Resolution Institute, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chattam House).  He has presented his research in global research conferences, including the United Nations and the Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network.

Dr. Matthew is the President/Co-Founder of Credo Foundation, an organisation working to address governance and broader development issues in Nigeria.  He is also a Co-Convener of The Gathering.  Matthew writes for national and international media and research outlets including the Guardian, Punch, ThisDay and AllAfrica.