Professor Charles Odidi Okidi of the University of Nairobi Institute for Development Studies was appointed by the Environmental Law Institute® as the Institute’s first J. William Futrell Visiting Scholar. He will be in residence at the Institute in Washington, DC during the month of October.
"We are delighted to have Professor Okidi join ELI to work on developing our environmental programs in Africa," said ELI President Leslie Carothers. "His distinguished career as a legal scholar and educator makes him an outstanding choice as the first Futrell Scholar."At ELI, Professor Okidi will work with ELI attorneys to develop plans to create environmental law and policy centers at African universities, beginning with the University of Nairobi. In addition, he will help develop the Institute’s program to strengthen environmental law and policy programs at African universities. The collaboration will identify the specific needs of African universities for improving curricula, infrastructure, and coordination among their researchers.
Prior to his current position at the University of Nairobi, Professor Okidi held positions at the United Nations Environment Programme (Kenya), Moi University (Kenya), the University of Malta (Malta), and Dalhousie University (Canada), where he founded environmental teaching and research programs. He received his Masters of Art in Law and Diplomacy and his Ph.D. in Public International Law from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (Massachusetts), and his Bachelor’s Degree from Alaska Methodist University. He has published extensively in environmental law, law of the sea, and international water law.
Established in 2003, the J. William Futrell Visiting Scholars Program honors Futrell’s career-long dedication to conservation and recognizes his 23 years of achievement as ELI president, concluding in 2003. The Environmental Law Institute has hosted international visiting scholars over the past decade from Latin America, Africa, Australia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. The Visiting Scholars have contributed to the success of ELI’s international projects and have helped to inspire new approaches for the Institute’s domestic programs.
For more information about the Environmental Law Institute, please call 202-939-3800 or e-mail pressrequest@eli.org.