Our directors, programme leads and staff run the day-to-day research, programmes and operations of the Institute — turning the vision of people-centred justice into evidence, coalitions and capacity on the ground.
Executive Director of the Justice Research Institute, leading the Institute’s research, programmes and operations.
Ikem Isiekwena serves as Executive Director of the Justice Research Institute, providing leadership across the Institute’s legal research, justice reform and capacity-building work throughout the justice sector.
Distinguished lawyer, public policy expert and internationally recognised human rights advocate with over 25 years shaping justice reform across Africa.
Foluso Idumu-Shado is a distinguished lawyer, public policy expert, and internationally recognised human rights advocate with over 25 years of experience shaping justice sector reform, democratic governance, and human rights across Africa. She serves as the Director of People-Centred Justice Programmes at the Justice Research Institute (JRI), where she provides strategic leadership for programmes that advance inclusive justice systems, strengthen the rule of law, and improve access to justice for vulnerable and marginalised populations.
A leading voice in the people-centred justice movement, Foluso works across governments, regional institutions, development partners, civil society, and the legal profession to promote justice systems that are responsive, equitable, and accessible. She leads the implementation of the African Alliance for People-Centred Justice (AAPCJ) in West Africa, fostering cross-country collaboration, innovation, and policy reform to accelerate the delivery of justice for all.
Her expertise spans human rights, democratic governance, access to justice, child rights, social justice, mental health, sexual and gender-based violence, disability rights, and the protection of women and children. Throughout her career, she has designed and led high-impact programmes that strengthen justice institutions, empower communities, and promote inclusive public policy.
Foluso previously served in the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where she was Senior Special Assistant (Administration) to the President. She also served for several years in the Office of the Vice President, working closely with His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, on governance, justice sector initiatives, and public policy reforms. Her work contributed to advancing institutional reforms and strengthening partnerships between government, civil society, and the private sector.
An accomplished leader in the legal profession, Foluso was instrumental in establishing Nigeria’s pro bono architecture. As a PILnet Fellow and Visiting Scholar at Columbia University, New York, she championed the institutionalisation of pro bono legal services and led the establishment of the National Pro Bono Clearing House, creating sustainable mechanisms for expanding access to justice for underserved communities through strategic collaboration with the legal profession.
Foluso holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the prestigious Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa, where she distinguished herself academically. Her career reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing human dignity, strengthening democratic institutions, and ensuring equal justice for all.
Widely respected for her strategic leadership, policy expertise, and collaborative approach, Foluso continues to influence justice reform across Africa by convening governments, judiciaries, legal professionals, civil society, and international partners to build people-centred justice systems that leave no one behind.
Justice Research Institute serves as a hub for legal minds, researchers and scholars — carrying out legal research, formulating policy for critical reforms, and building the institutional structures and capacity that people-centered justice requires.