Interview with Mary Ekemezie: Founder and Lead Consultant ME Consult

1. Can you tell us about your    background and what inspired you to start ME Academy?

I am a corporate lawyer and an entrepreneur, recognised for my expertise in corporate and commercial law, as well as employment law. The work I do at ME Consult (my law firm) and ME Academy (the training academy) enables me to combine legal acumen with innovative training and governance frameworks, thus enabling me to offer practical, high-impact advisory services.

Before founding ME Academy, I spent 13 years at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (UUBO), where I served as a Managing Associate and a key member of the firm’s M&A, Private Equity, Employment, and Corporate Advisory teams. During my time at UUBO, I was privileged to advise on complex transactional and advisory roles, including the dual-listing of Seplat on the LSE and NGX, the merger of the Nigerian subsidiaries of Ab-InBev, the merger of Cadbury and its subsidiary, and the listing of the first ETF on the NSE. I was honoured to be recognised as a National Leader by Who’s Who Legal for my work on employment-related aspects of major M&A transactions.

In addition to my legal practice, I serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Employment and Industrial Relations Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, and I am a member of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) Expert Network.

In 2021, following a year-long illness, I found myself at a career crossroads. I knew I wanted to remain within the legal profession but sought a more flexible pace, one that would enable me to share the knowledge I had accumulated over the years. Reflecting on conversations with younger colleagues, I realised that many lacked access to the same level of training and transactional exposure that I had been fortunate enough to experience. I also recalled instances where deals had fallen through due to a lack of experienced legal support. This realisation led me to establish ME Academy, an initiative designed to bridge this knowledge gap by providing lawyers with the tools, insights, and confidence they need to succeed.
Following my career pivot, I started dealing more with entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and SMEs. My interactions revealed that while there was a need for legal advice, cost was a huge problem. And so, I devised the ME Academy SME Hub. The SME Hub is a comprehensive platform of legal resources tailored specifically for early-stage, emerging businesses and small and medium enterprises, to equip entrepreneurs with the tools they need to navigate legal and operational challenges. Young and transitioning lawyers will also find the legal resources in the SME Hub very useful for their work.

2. Tell us about the three most fulfilling moments in your career before founding the ME Academy.

It is hard to choose, as I have had many fulfilling moments in my legal career. I will, however, go with the following three:

Advising on the First Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange: Working on the first of its kind landmark transaction, the listing of the Absa NewGold ETF on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2011. The transaction, which was the first cross-border listing of an ETF in Nigeria, was exhilarating and sometimes frustrating, but ultimately, it was rewarding. During this assignment, I understood firsthand the importance of building and cultivating relationships with regulators (in this case, it was the SEC). The transaction demonstrated again the immense value of hands-on, transaction-based learning. The listing of the ETF was not just a milestone for the capital market; it provided a new investment instrument for retail and institutional investors in Nigeria.

Approval to Serve as a Visiting Lecturer at Wavecrest College of Hospitality: Being invited to deliver guest lectures at Wavecrest College of Hospitality, a leading institution focused on hospitality and service excellence, was deeply rewarding. I am forever thankful to the Managing Partner of UUBO at the time, Mr. Dan Agbor, who approved my application, for the time off to deliver the lectures. The experience afforded me the opportunity to bridge legal theory and practical experience, mentoring future hospitality professionals on regulatory frameworks and governance.

Advising on Seplat’s Dual Listing – Nigeria’s First Indigenous Oil & Gas IPO: Advising on Seplat Energy’s historic dual listing on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange in 2014 was a highlight of my career. As the first indigenous oil and gas company in Nigeria to pursue simultaneous listings, the deal required delicate coordination of legal, regulatory, and stakeholder aspects across two jurisdictions. It was deeply gratifying to have been a part of the transaction, given its strategic implications for Nigeria’s energy sector.

These experiences stood out not just because of their scale, but because they shaped my professional identity: combining legal rigour, regulatory insight, and practical mentorship.

3. Tell us about the work that ME Academy has been doing what you hope to achieve with this initiative.

For the past four years, ME Academy has been equipping lawyers with practical knowledge and skills across key areas of corporate commercial law. Our focus is on bridging the gap between legal theory and real-world practice, particularly for those who haven’t had the benefit of working in large commercial law firms.

Our Introduction to Corporate Commercial Law Practice Masterclass (the “ICCP”) remains our bestseller. Building on its success, we have added some new offerings to our course library:

Introduction to Project Finance Masterclass
Introduction to Banking and Finance Masterclass
Negotiating the LMA Facility Agreement & Structuring Equity Transactions

Each course is designed with practicality in mind, drawing on real transaction experience to help participants build confidence and competence in their practice.

Following the re-launch of our LMS in March this year, the Introduction to Project Finance Masterclass, the Introduction to Banking and Finance Masterclass, and the Negotiating the LMA Facility Agreement & Structuring Equity Transactions are now self-paced online courses on the LMS (http://www.me-academy.org/courses)

We are working on producing a self-paced online version of the ICCP course before the end of the year.

To celebrate our fourth anniversary this September, we are offering a 20% discount on all courses on our website, www.me-academy.org. The discount will also apply to the resources on the SME Hub. More courses are on the way, and we look forward to continuing to support lawyers who want to deepen their expertise and thrive in the corporate space.

The icing on the cake for us this year has been the NBA’s approval of our application to act as a Service Provider for NBA-ICLE. We are in the process of finalising the terms of our approval and registration, and in the coming months, our new courses will attract CPD points.

4. Tell us about the measures you have put in place to ensure the quality and credibility of the courses offered by ME Academy.

At ME Academy, quality and credibility are our foundation. Every course curriculum is born from intensive research, combining expert-led delivery and practitioner collaboration, and my over 17 years of experience providing corporate law advisory, advising on mergers and acquisitions, and private equity transactions.

Take our Introduction to Banking and Finance course, for example: it is co-facilitated by Joseph Eimunjeze and Onyinye Okafor, both Partners at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie. Joseph is a highly regarded expert in banking, finance, fintech, and tax, known for leading complex, cross-border transactions and delivering practical, business-minded legal solutions, while Onyinye is celebrated for her structured finance know-how and responsiveness in advising international banks on synthetic and trade finance deals. This course is ideal for lawyers entering or advancing in banking and finance law, whether they are at law firms, financial institutions, or in-house legal teams.

Similarly, our Introduction to Project Finance is delivered by Okechukwu Joachim Okoro, Deputy Managing Partner at G. Elias & Co., a seasoned practitioner with over 12 years of experience in energy, infrastructure, and sophisticated commercial transactions. His strategic insight makes the module invaluable for lawyers engaged in high-value project financing.

Onyinye and I jointly facilitate the Negotiating LMA Facility Agreements & Structuring Equity Transactions, providing hands-on walk-throughs and practical advice rooted in real transactional experience.

By combining expert-led delivery and practitioner collaboration, we ensure that ME Academy’s offerings are not just educational but deeply relevant and immediately applicable to legal practice.

5. How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work? Perhaps any books, podcasts, or other resources that have influenced your approach to working as a lawyer and building an e-learning platform for lawyers?

My first and my biggest motivation is God. He is literally and figuratively my “raison d’être”. Every success story – lawyers who have successfully transitioned to the practice of corporate commercial law, or whose practice/career trajectory has taken off after taking our courses – is also a major reason why I continue to do this. I am also encouraged every time a law firm requests bespoke training (UUBO, Berkeley Legal, Bloomfield) or registers their employees for a course. ME Academy also offers me the platform to give back, and that in itself is a motivation, because I get to do what I love to do as my day job.

As far as resources go, I have found Subomi Plumptre’s Waking Thoughts newsletter and her reflections on leadership, career, faith, and purpose, both challenging and instructive. Her reflections spur me to want to do more, and better, and offer practical insights, some of which I have implemented in ME Academy. I also find Eli Albrecht’s, a Jewish-American lawyer, LinkedIn posts, where he shares his thoughts on faith, family, and work, very inspiring.

Another major source of support has been peer collaboration. In this respect, collaborating with experts such as Joseph Eimunjeze, Onyinye Okafor, and Okechukwu Okoro in co-designing and introducing new courses has been a game-changer for me.

6. Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations that have proved pivotal to the delivery of your platform or that users should be on the lookout for?

The Strictly Law Business Community has been very helpful in introducing me to a community that encourages me on my journey. In particular, I would like to thank the Founder of SLB Community, and my friend, Busola Ajala. She not only helped me refine my processes, but she also constantly refers my courses to lawyers who need some training as they pivot or transition to the practice of corporate commercial law. To expand the courses we offer, I am currently exploring a collaboration with Dr. Jerome Okoro, regarding the introduction of a tax course, in light of the new tax regime, and with Chisom Ndubisi, to develop an Introduction to Corporate Investigations course. Chisom is a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Senior Associate with UUBO.

7. What interests and activities do you engage in outside of work?

I have always had a passion for teaching, and over the years, that has evolved into a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of lawyers.

Last year, I launched The Virtual Tour, an online mentoring initiative for young lawyers that saw me speaking with lawyers in several states, including Ogun, Oyo (Ibadan), Gombe, Abuja (Gwagwalada Branch), and Bayelsa. It’s been inspiring to see the enthusiasm and potential among young legal professionals across the country. Later that year, my team and I extended the virtual tour to law students across the country. Some of the schools we visited include the University of Lagos State, the University of Port-Harcourt, the Bayero University Kano, the Ambrose Alli University, the Lagos State University, and the Nigerian Law School. The sessions focus on building interest and confidence in corporate commercial law, providing a space for students to ask questions and gain insights into legal practice beyond the classroom.

Beyond law, I am actively involved in civic and values-based initiatives. In this respect, I volunteer at the clubs for young girls (8 to 17 years) run by the Wavecrest Study Centre, where I teach the Human Dignity Curriculum, helping them understand the inherent value of the human person and the importance of self-worth. I sit on the board of the African Christian Professionals Forum (ACPF), where I collaborate with professionals across Africa to advocate for life, family values, religious freedom, and good governance.

I am also the Legal Consultant to the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), a coalition of civil society organisations dedicated to preserving authentic African values. In this role, I support advocacy efforts around the dignity of the human person, including the promotion of the Human Dignity Curriculum in schools and campaigns against the inclusion of comprehensive sexuality education in Nigeria’s educational framework. I also work with FACH teams focused on strengthening family life and preserving cultural values that underpin stable, thriving communities.

On a more personal note, I look forward to the long holidays because I reconnect more deeply with my nieces and nephews. During this time, my sisters and their children visit me (my Mum lives with me), and we all get to create memories. This family tradition is modelled on memories from my childhood, when we (my siblings and cousins) used to visit my Aunt (my Mum’s eldest sister) in Umuahia.
When I am not volunteering or spending time with family, I can be found listening to music, watching movies, or reading articles on Public Discourse (https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/).

This combination of legal practice, education, family time, music, movies, and civic engagement is a summary of who I am.

8. If not law, what would it be?

If I did not pursue a career in law, I imagine I would have followed a very different path. I would probably have ended up as a translator (to cater to my interest in languages) or, quite interestingly, in cybersecurity. Who knows, I might yet still give full rein to my interest in cybersecurity. In the meantime, though, I would like to explore more visiting lecturer roles.