Prof Ephraim Ngwafor
Legal Household
Professor Ephraim Ngwafor is a distinguished legal practitioner, academic, and public servant. He hails from Mankon in the heart of Bamenda, Cameroon. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of NGWAFOR & Partners Law Firm and serves as the Executive Director of SPOOR & FISHER (Inc. NGWAFOR & PARTNERS SARL), the designated Spoor & Fisher office in the OAPI region. With expertise spanning Energy and Natural Resources, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Family, and Probate, he has built a reputation for advising foreign investors and collaborating with international law firms on due diligence, regulatory compliance, and investment structuring in Cameroon and the wider region. Professor Ngwafor is also an accredited Intellectual Property agent with the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) and a member of several prestigious professional bodies, including the International Trademark Association (INTA), the International Bar Association, and the Cameroon Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
Background
Professor Ngwafor began his legal career nearly three decades before founding NGWAFOR & Partners in August 2007, initially as a solo practice which he developed into a leading multi-specialisation full-service law firm. Before entering private practice, he gained extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. In academia, he served as a Professor of Law, holding the only Chair in English Law at the Faculty of Laws and Political Science at the University of Yaoundé II until his retirement. He also held key administrative roles, including Dean of Studies and Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the same university. In public service, he contributed as a member of the technical committee for the revision of the Cameroon Constitution (1993–1996) and later served as Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon. He holds a ‘Licence en Droit’ from the University of Yaoundé, an LL.M. from Dalhousie Law School in Canada, and a Ph.D. in Law from University College London.
Community Contributions
Professor Ngwafor has made significant contributions to both the legal profession and society at large. As a prolific academic and author, he has influenced legal scholarship and education in Cameroon and beyond. His work as an accredited IP agent with OAPI has strengthened intellectual property systems within the region, supporting innovation and business development. He has played an active role in shaping governance and legal frameworks, notably through his involvement in the constitutional reform process in Cameroon. Additionally, his membership in international legal and arbitration bodies, including the Users’ Council of the London Court of International Arbitration, reflects his contribution to global legal discourse, particularly in areas such as oil and gas, mining, corporate law, maritime, and insurance. Through his legal practice, Professor Ngwafor continues to facilitate foreign investment and economic development, contributing to the growth of Cameroon’s business environment and the broader sub-region.