Celebrating 2024’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Gaming, Africa: Olafadeke Akeju
Olafadeke Akeju is a distinguished legal professional with a remarkable career spanning over two decades. Currently, she serves as the Managing Partner at WYS Solicitors in Nigeria and holds the position of Legal Counsel for Africa at SteelRose Legal in the United Kingdom.
Her expertise primarily lies in the gaming and gambling industry, where she has played a pivotal role in regulatory restructuring, policy development, and advisory services across various jurisdictions.
Olafadeke’s professional journey began after she obtained her LL.B degree in Law from Lagos State University in 2002. Following her studies, she was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing her training at the Nigerian Law School in 2005. Her legal career commenced at Olalekan Yusuf & Co, where she served as a Legal Counsel, honing her skills in litigation and legal research, in addition to corporate registration activities. Her tenure in this role provided a strong foundation for her future endeavors in the legal field.
In 2007, Olafadeke transitioned to Lasaco Assurance Plc as a Legal Officer, where she provided crucial legal and administrative support. Her proficiency and dedication led her to the Lagos State Lotteries Board in 2008, where she served for over eight years as the Board Secretary and Legal Adviser. In this capacity, Olafadeke played an instrumental role in implementing gaming regulations and policies, acting as Chief Compliance Officer and spearheading the Licensing Due Diligence, Assessment & Compliance Committee. Her extensive involvement in regulatory policy development positioned her as a leading expert in the industry.
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In 2016, Olafadeke ascended to the role of Senior Partner at WYS Solicitors, where she focused on providing legal advisory services to stakeholders in the gaming industry. Her leadership qualities, coupled with her deep understanding of the legal landscape, propelled her to become the Managing Partner at WYS Solicitors in February 2019—a position she continues to occupy. In parallel, she founded SLEC Africa in January 2020, aiming to support the growth and regulation of the gaming sector across the continent. Her commitment to this domain is further demonstrated by her involvement with SteelRose Legal as Legal Counsel for Africa since January 2023.
Additionally, Olafadeke served as a Special Adviser to the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission from 2017 to 2019. In this role, she made significant contributions to the restructuring of Nigeria’s gaming industry and the development of a national gaming policy. Her advisory role in this capacity highlights her dedication to fostering an effective regulatory framework for the gaming sector in Nigeria.
2024 Most Influential Women in Gaming, Africa as Brought to you by iGaming AFRIKA in partnership with Women in Gaming, The African Chapter
