Meet Dr Ozah, Azubuike, Lecturer in Law and Joint Programme Leader for BA Business Management with Law, here at the University of Salford.
After years of practicing law, Ozah developed a keen interest in combining legal practice with impactful research to create an interactive learning experience for students.
Here at Salford, his research explores the intersection of energy law, environmental law and justice, understanding how law is regulated with climate action measures.
In this blog, Ozah reflects on his career journey, key milestones and how he became the academic he is today.
How did you get into academia as a career path?
I was drawn to academia because it brings together several things that I value which include critical thinking, research, teaching and the opportunity to help others develop.
My journey into academia was also born out of a desire to bridge legal practice with impactful scholarly research. Before moving fully into higher education, I spent over a decade in active legal practice and in-house practice respectively, serving as a Barrister and Solicitor. During my time in the industry, I advised on commercial projects and worked as Head of Legal Services for a multinational upstream energy servicing company across West and Central Africa.
What appealed to me most was, academia allows you to continue learning while also supporting the learning of others, encouraging students to question assumptions, develop their confidence and apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
Why did you choose to work at the University of Salford?
Salford has a character that I find energising. It is diverse, it is unpretentious and it is connected to communities. I chose the University of Salford because of its strong connection with professional practice, industry and the wider community. Salford also has a distinctive identity that combines academics with a clear commitment to making a practical and real-world difference.
I was also attracted by the University’s emphasis on student development and employability. The opportunity to work in an environment where research and teaching are connected to real-world challenges was particularly important to me.
What is the best thing about being an academic at Salford?
The students I teach at Salford come from genuinely diverse backgrounds – different countries, different life experiences and different relationships with how the law operates. Many are the first in their family to go to university. While some have come from areas where law has been used against people rather than for them.
The best thing is the opportunity to work with these students from a wide range of backgrounds and to see their progress over time. It is rewarding to watch students become more confident, develop their ideas and begin to recognise their own potential.
I also value the collegiality at Salford, because the University brings together people with different professional experiences and research interests, and that creates opportunities for collaboration.
Can you tell us about any of your career highlights to date?
There are a few moments that stand out, for different reasons. Being admitted as a Solicitor of the Law Society of Scotland was a milestone I am genuinely proud of, because of the opportunity to practise law in two jurisdictions. This gives me a perspective on legal systems and their differences that enriches my teaching in ways I could not have planned.
More recently, being appointed Joint Programme Leader for the BA Business Management with Law programme here at the University has been a highlight, because it is not about my own work but about shaping an experience for hundreds of students. Actively participating in the periodic programme review and designing new module pathways are examples of things that may feel consequential, but I find them genuinely satisfying.
What’s your current research focused on?
My research sits at the intersection of energy law, environmental law and justice. It gravitates towards the questions that sit between those fields rather than within any single one of them.
My research primarily explores the legal, regulatory and policy framework of decommissioning disused oil and gas infrastructure, energy transition, decarbonisation, natural resource governance, renewable energy, sustainability, climate change, and the environmental aspects of oil and gas exploration and production.
Do you have any published papers we can read?
I recently published a book chapter titled, European Cross-Border Unitization Agreements in International Approaches to Hydrocarbon Development in Disputed Zones.
And finally, the all-important question: where in Manchester or Salford is best to grab a coffee?
The Old Fire Station is the ideal coffee spot for me. It is relaxed enough for conversation but lively enough to capture the character of the busy Salford Crescent.