Ms. Akeju is a renowned legal, regulatory, and jurisdictional expert with 18 years of extensive experience specializing in entertainment and gaming law, corporate and transactional law, governance, and regulatory compliance. She has built a reputation as a pioneering force in Africa’s gaming industry, with expertise spanning licensing, data privacy & governance, regulatory analysis, and compliance reporting across the continent’s complex regulatory frameworks.
An alumna of Lagos State University, Ms. Akeju earned her Law degree before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 2005. She further honed her expertise with an MBA and an MSc in Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics from the University of Bradford.
Her career trajectory reflects a remarkable evolution in legal and regulatory leadership. She began her professional journey at Olalekan Yusuf & Co, mastering litigation, corporate structuring, and regulatory advisory, before moving to LASACO Assurance Plc as a Legal Officer.
In 2008, Her career took a defining turn as the first woman in the Nigerian gaming industry, when she was appointed Board Secretary/Legal Adviser at the Lagos State Lotteries Board (now Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority). In this role, she redefined Nigeria’s gaming regulatory space, driving policy development, compliance oversight, and licensing frameworks.
Ms. Akeju’s regulatory impact extended nationally when she served as Special Adviser to the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, playing a pivotal role in shaping a unified national gaming policy.
In 2016, she transitioned into private practice as a founding partner at WYS Solicitors, Nigeria’s first specialized gaming law firm, where she continues to provide policy advocacy, regulatory advisory, licencing and compliance solutions to gaming stakeholders. Recognizing the critical need for capacity building, she established SLEC Africa in 2020, a leading platform for regulatory research, training, and industry intelligence across Africa’s gaming sector.
Her global footprint expanded further as Legal Counsel (Africa) at SteelRose Legal, UK, where she advises clients across the continent on corporate structuring, entity setup, licensing, and commercial legal matters. Through SLEC Africa, she has also spearheaded strategic policy advocacy, working closely with African regulatory authorities to shape legislation, promote responsible AI integration, and elevate data protection standards.
Ms. Akeju’s impact is widely recognized—she was named among the top 50 most influential women in gaming in Africa by iGaming Afrika, an accolade that underscores her trailblazing contributions to the industry.
A sought-after speaker, thought leader, and panellist at high-profile international gaming conferences, Ms. Akeju continues to drive transformative change in Africa’s gaming legal landscape, shaping innovative regulatory solutions and championing best practices in compliance and governance.
