Philip recently obtained his PhD in Law from the University of Birmingham. In 2015, Philip bagged a Master of Laws (LLM) degree (with distinction) from the Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria, emerging as the best graduating student. He is also a 2009 recipient of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Prize for students who completed the Bar Vocational Examination with First Class Honours. He had earlier obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in the Second-Class Upper Division category in 2008 from the Ambrose Alli University.
- PhD - University of Birmingham
- LLM(Distinction) - Ambrose Alli University
- BL (First Class Honours) - Nigerian Law School
- LLB (Upper Second Class Honours) - Ambrose Alli University
- Introduction to Academic Practice Certificate - University of Birmingham
- Horizon Award - University of Birmingham
- Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Philip’s research interests are generally in the field of International Human Rights Law, with special focus on economic and social rights of vulnerable groups, such as older persons, in developing countries.
He disseminates his research outputs through academic publications, presentations at conferences and public engagement with relevant government officials and policy makers.
As a researcher, Philip has served as an Expert Panellist at an African Commission Working Group on Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities and the University of Pretoria event, advising African governments on ratification and implementation strategies on the African Union’s Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons. Philip is a former Deputy Convenor of the Birmingham Law School’s Human Rights, Development and Global Legal Studies Research Group. He has acted as a Peer Reviewer for several Law Journals, including the University of Oxford Human Rights Hub Journal, SAGE’s Environmental Law Review and Taylor and Francis’ Commonwealth Law Bulletin.
Philip is currently working with Routledge regarding his forthcoming monograph. Through the lens of the Law and drawing on the insights from Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), the monograph explores the role of international cooperation in addressing global poverty. It considers whether there is a duty to cooperate in international law and thereafter examines international cooperation in four strands: climate change, international trade and investment, corruption and tax evasion.
Philip currently supervises some LLM and GDL dissertation students in his area of research interests. He welcomes proposals from prospective LLM and PhD candidates who are interested in undertaking research within his areas of expertise.
Access Philip’s publications on Google Scholar.
Philip’s other research activities include:
Conference and Seminar Paper Presentations
- Feminisation of Ageing and Socioeconomic Rights Realisation: What Hope for African Older Women? By Dr Philip Oamen - School of Law | Birmingham City University (bcu.ac.uk).
- ‘Digital Ageism: Is Artificial Intelligence Promoting or Undermining the Rights of Older Persons?’, presented at the Exploring the Intersections between Law and Artificial Intelligence Workshop, Nottingham Trent University (coming up in September 2023).
- ‘Older Persons' Rights and Mental Health Law in Africa and Europe: A Comparative Approach' presented at the annual conference of the Society of Legal Scholars, Oxford Brookes University (June 2023).
- 'Artificial Intelligence and Legal Practice: Repositioning for Society's Evolving Trends' presented at the Nigerian Bar Association (Bwari Branch) Webinar (May 2023).
- ‘Short Term, Mid-term and Long Term Interventions that can be adopted by Countries that have Ratified the Older Persons’ Protocol to Improve Living Conditions of Older Persons’ at an African Commission and University of Pretoria’s Webinar to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (October 2021).
- ‘The Impact of Covid-19 on the Socio-economic Rights of Older Persons in Africa: The Urgency of Operationalizing the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons’ (with Eghosa O. Ekhator) at the Conference marking the 40th Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (July 2021).
- ‘Rights to Healthcare in Nigeria: Innovations for Courts’ presented at the annual meeting of the Law and Society Association, Washington DC (May/June 2019)
Philip has provided expert advice to African Governments and policymakers under the auspices of the African Commission Working Group on Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities in collaboration with the University of Pretoria.
Philip was a practising Barrister in Nigeria before joining the academia. He has consistently maintained close connections with Legal Practitioners and Civil Society Organisations within the Legal Sector.
