Tiwalade Aderemi: Tech-Law is an emerging sector that has come to stay

Tiwalade Aderemi is a Law student at Olabisi Onabanjo University. She is passionate about the interjection between technology and the administration of Justice in the legal system. An energy enthusiast who believes in clean energy and environmental sustainability, she recently launched an energy podcast, Tiwa Talks Green (TTG), a podcast that focuses on exposing listeners to the intricacies of energy, staying informed with events in the oil and gas industry. In 2018, she was elected as the Public Relations Officer of the Law Students Society, OOU. In 2019/20, she served as the Vice President of the law students’ society, OOU, where she received an honorary award of selfless service and excellence. In the just concluded OOULSS election, Tiwalade Aderemi was elected as the Second Female President of the Law Students’ Society OOU. In her bid to build cutting edge relevance in the field of law, she has interned at top tier law firms in Nigeria, including Omaplex Law Firm, Hilton Top Solicitors, Digital Rights Lawyer’s Initiative (DRLI) and others. She shares her experiences in this interview.

Inspiration Behind Tech Savvy
TECHNOLOGY is the tool that ensures our relevance in society. As a 21st century lawyer, it is expedient to be technology oriented. In my bid to help students build capacity in the tech industry, I co-founded the Technology Savvy Law Students’ Club (OOU chapter), an organisation set up to expose students to the intricacies of technology law.

Tiwa Talks Green And Its Impact
Tiwa Talks Green (T.T.G.) is an energy series podcast organised to educate the public on the nitty gritty of the energy sector. I am passionate about causing a change in the energy sector and TTG was founded out of my passion towards enlightening people about the activities in this sector. Look forward to educational and enlightening sessions on TTG; it’s all about energy.

Technology Law As An Emerging Sector In Legal Practice
Technology is an important part of life; technology is as old as the world. Remember, there were times we used typewriters? A typewriter in this century is almost useless, but at that time, it was technology. For students who are interested in starting a career in technology law, I say technology law is different from technology itself.

Technology law is all about regulating the smooth running of technology users through a law; that is, it is the law that regulates the activities of the technology space. Thus, technology law includes financial technology laws, crypto currency regulations, digital rights laws, block chain laws, inter alia.

Advice To Students Interested In Tech Law
My advice to students who are thinking or considering a career in technology law is that they should read extensively on technology itself; understand several areas in tech and the law that regulates it. Take online courses, which would further expand your knowledge and do internships at technology firms or technology companies.

For example, my internship with Digital Rights Lawyers’ Initiative sharpened my tech skills and handed me firsthand experience. Also, my internship with Omaplex Law firm, Hiltontop solicitors technology law firms equipped me with requisite skills needed in the technology space.

It is true that technology law is an emerging practice area in the legal profession, and the major challenge to me is not chasing your dreams because of challenges. The answer is this, ‘start by taking a step and be focused.’

The importance of legal practice to a sustainable environment
A short rhetoric question, is there any sector that doesn’t need law? Even in our households, we have laws. Some would say, ‘we lock our gates by 9pm, anyone that comes after 9pm would pay a fine of N500.’ Again, I say, there is no place that the law is not needed.

The impact of the law has positively influenced the energy sector. For example, the Petroleum Act of 2010, inter alia, was set up to regulate the activities in the energy sector. Where there are no laws, the society becomes ungovernable and man becomes more brutish, nasty, wicked, and evil. Hence, it is my submission that the energy sector in my country, Nigeria, is alive because of the legal practice.

How Serving As Vice President At The Faculty Level Impacted Me As A Law Student 
My service to the law students’ society has taught me servant leadership, resilience, teamwork, effective multitasking, courage and strength. My experience has helped me understand the value of hard work. Working with other executives has built my teamwork skills, being able to approach issues is a great skill I own all thanks to my service.

As a law student, I have been able to strike a balance between my education and the positions I occupy. Having to resume weeks before the official resumption, attending tutorials etc. I have learnt excellent multi tasking skills.

However, as an individual, I have been equipped with requisite skills and experience that would help me excellently in my future endeavors.

Balancing Education With Activities And Positions
Over the years, I have been able to strike an excellent balance with my education and offices I occupy through my multitasking skills. To me, the offices I occupy are registered courses in my ‘personal course form’ and it is compulsory to pass all my courses. To this end, I say my activities and positions occupied all form part of my LLB.

Challenges Due To Positions And Offices I Occupy
Challenges form part of our success stories. Behind every story, there are challenges and it’s just natural. For me, there are several challenges I have experienced in my several offices.

The major challenge that every administration faces is always finance related. Every administration has a goal, a plan and a beautiful picture of what they wish to achieve. However, getting finances is one of the greatest challenges we face.

Winning The Tech Hackathon Competition With My Team
The DARA BIG DATA Hackathon competition exposed me to a journey beyond the legal profession. During the competition, I was challenged to expand my learning horizon to experience technology and science at play. Prior to the competition, I restricted myself to only learn the law. However, the competition made me understand the interjectory between Technology, Science and the law itself.

Working on Sentiment Analysis was an unimagined dream for me in 2020. I wouldn’t have thought to be part of a successful project. Winning as Team Amazons was something I was prepared for; Sir Andrew never gave room for us to think otherwise. He fed us with inspiring words, making us believe in our capabilities. I am particularly grateful to him for his immense support and guide all through the competition. I remember asking him to explain python theory over two times because I was lost.

What I Would Change If I Become Nigeria’s President For A Day
Hmmmmm, this is not a movie; this is reality. Being the president for 24 hours cannot change everything. To be realistic, if I am the President for 24 hours, I would pick just one thing I am passionate about, which is energy and a sustainable environment.

Energy is the heart of Nigeria’s economy. I would use 24 hours to ensure that there is an adequate provision for renewable energy and also make provisions for the relief of residents who are deserted as a result of oil spill, gas flaring etc.

Three Women Who Inspire Me And Why
My mother: her spirit of resilience and hard work inspires me to always be the best version of myself, unrelenting and always strong.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: I am inspired by the historical impacts she made as the former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Her great feat in the legal profession is a motivation that as a female, I can also stand out and never stop impacting lives.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an economist and international development expert. I am inspired by her resilience and exceptional excellence, which has made a name for the country, Nigeria, globally

Advice To Young Girls
Dear teens, it is my advice that you build a relationship with God. Be focused and do not get distracted by present gratifications; success comes with a price; godliness, hardwork, excellence, consistency and determination. There are times you will feel unhappy, in these times, focus on one thing, God. Don’t give up, at the center of it all, see God only.