Templars, one of Nigeria’s foremost business law firms, signaled its strategic intent on 1 September 2025, with the appointment of Ronke Sokefun as Partner.
The move underscores the firm’s emphasis on deepening its foothold in the oil and gas sector during a period of regulatory transformation.
SEC Nigeria
A Legal Leader with Multifaceted Experience
Sokefun brings to Templars a rare combination of experience across corporate law, in-house leadership, and public governance. Her tenure as Chief Legal Officer at Oando plc, a major integrated energy group, involved overseeing complex legal, compliance, and transactional matters across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations—an asset for Templars’ energy practice.
Complementing her corporate pedigree is a solid regulatory and government profile. In 2019, she made national headlines as the first woman appointed Chair of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). Earlier in her career, she served the Ogun State government as Commissioner for Agriculture, Commissioner for Urban & Physical Planning, and Director‑General of the Bureau of Lands & Survey. These roles positioned her at the intersection of law, policy, and development.
Strengthening Energy Law Advisory with Insight from the Inside
Templars has long been recognised for its firm grip on energy law, advising international oil majors, indigenous producers, and financiers on upstream, midstream, and transactional matters. Sokefun’s familiarity with navigating internal legal challenges within an energy giant positions her as a critical asset. Understanding corporate risk, regulatory expectations, and operational pressures from within an energy conglomerate offers clients a truly insider perspective.
Governance Credentials and Global Training
Beyond her public and corporate roles, Sokefun is deeply rooted in governance and leadership circles. She currently chairs the Women’s Group of the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria (CIoD), where she mentors emerging female leaders. She is also a Fellow of both the CIoD and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
Her profile is further distinguished by executive education at globally respected institutions—including Harvard, Kellogg, Cambridge Judge, INSEAD, and Lagos Business School—and an ESG designation (GCB‑D) from the Competent Boards Institute, Canada. These credentials reflect her fluency in governance, compliance, and emerging sustainability imperatives.
What Templars Says
Oghogho Akpata, Managing Partner at Templars, welcomed her joining with emphasis on the value of her diverse experience. In his remarks:
“Her cross-disciplinary expertise in the areas of Governance, Public Policy, Governmental Relations, Public Administration and Compliance is incomparable and will be an invaluable resource for our clients.”
This appraisal highlights how Sokefun’s skill set spans the policy and regulatory axes just as much as legal and commercial ones—an increasingly sought-after mix for energy-sector clients navigating volatile environments.
Strategic Implications for Templars
Templars’ recruitment of Ronke Sokefun signals a couple of key intentions. First, it demonstrates consolidation of their energy dominance: Sokefun brings an internalized understanding of the legal and regulatory dynamics of energy group operations. Second, it reinforces the firm’s drive to bolster governance and compliance practice in a landscape where regulatory oversight and ESG considerations are intensifying.
For Sokefun, the move offers a platform to leverage the full spectrum of her professional journey spanning law firms, corporate leadership, and public regulation in service of clients operating at the confluence of business, law, and policy.
In Nigeria’s evolving energy sector, where legal challenges overlap with governance, public policy shifts, and sustainability demands, her arrival marks a strategic alignment by Templars: positioning itself to guide clients through both the legal complexities and the broader operational and reputational risks they face.
