Outside his immediate circle, the modest picture he has continuously painted of himself is completely contested. In a system where many prefer to remain in the shadows, he has chosen visibility through service, thoughtful leadership, and mentorship, acclaimed legal luminary, Agbor Balla Nkongho says of the distinct legal practitioner on the rise.
Barrister Derek Invo Buo is a candidate for the position of Vice President of the General Assembly of the Bar in the July 14 elections. His primary goal is to address the “internal burnout, late payments, and lack of support systems” currently affecting lawyers by establishing “modern, inclusive, and transparent systems” if he is elected. He made the revelation in an exclusive interview with The National Post newspaper which has for months, been following up the activities of the youngster who is known among his peers as an outstanding legal practitioner on the rise.
But beyond his immediate professional circle, Barrister Derek Invo represents different symbols to different groups: an astute professional on the eyes of those in the legal space, a fine peace and development champion to communities and a symbol of change and hope for the younger demographic. Growing up in Bokwaongo in the Fako Division of the South West Region, Derek Invo easily distinguished himself as a youngster who commands an unquestionable commitment to community service, driven by a distinct spirit of leadership.
From serving as Information and Punctuality Prefect at Government High School Bokwaongo in Buea to being the Public Relation Officer of the Department of Law of the University of Buea and rising through the ranks to becoming the Secretary General of The Law Society of the University of Buea to serving as Student Council Representative of the Nigerian Law School Kano in 2018, Derek Invo’s trajectory was making a clear statement: he simply differentiated himself as a youthful and dynamic sensation that prioritizes general interest over personal gains.
Fast forward to 2025, Barrister Derek Invo still humbly describes himself as a rising legal practitioner who is focused on continuously making strides to “alleviate poverty, bring government closer to the people, promote peace, unity and the respect for human rights in developing countries especially Cameroon,” despite a run that has over the last decade, seen him leading multiple groundbreaking and lifechanging initiatives as a trainer, author, mentor, lawyer and an entrepreneur.
“In a system where many prefer to remain in the shadows, he has chosen visibility through service, thoughtful leadership, and mentorship,” acclaimed Cameroonian legal luminary, Agbor Balla Nkongho says of the distinct legal figure in a completely contrasting description to the modest picture that the legal practitioner on the rise has continuously painted of himself. At just 35, Barrister Derek Invo is regarded as one of the finest legal practitioners of not just among his peers of the younger generation in Cameroon but in the larger dynamic of things in the legal sphere in the country.
“His work, particularly his book on the professional ethics of advocacy, fills a critical gap in our professional literature. It is not just a theoretical exposition, but a guidepost for ethical lawyering in an environment that is increasingly complex and, at times, ethically compromised,” the internationally-celebrated legal guru adds of the figure who he also hails for what he describes as his outstanding contributions in setting the pace for the future generations.
In his native South West Region and its neighboring environments, Barrister Derek Invo is popular for his works in promoting the respect of human rights, for championing peace and serving as a mentor to thousands of learners, both young and old, and leading schemes that enhance the general wellbeing of communities. Outside the circle, he is acclaimed for spearheading initiatives geared towards promoting the professional ethics and skills of legal practice in Cameroon and front lining awareness raising on the rule of environmental law on sustaining natural resources and protecting wildlife through his multiplications, mentorship programs and series of other activities as a legal practitioner.
His rich achievement has seen many of his peers describing him as a natural born leader. A figure with an unquestionable commitment fully fit to take up strong responsibilities like the prestigious post of Vice President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association. “I have no doubt that if he is given a leadership position, he is going to expose him more and give him more impetus to do more than what he has already been doing,” like Bamenda-based advocate and 2025 Bar Council Aspirant, Muluh Stanly states. I think leadership nowadays is for the young people. He has the charisma what it takes to be a leader. The crown of leadership will only foster his deeds as far as the Cameroonian legal landscape is concerned,” Muluh adds.
Brilliant, far-reaching professional journey
Barrister Derek Invo fully began his journey as a legal practitioner in 2015 when he was called as a pupil advocate to the Cameroon Bar Association as an advocate of the Cameroon Supreme Court where he served between 2015 and 2018. Before that, he had served as a legal assistant at the Omega Law Firm in Buea for almost half a decade between 2012 and 2015 where his works were lauded for promoting not only the growth of the law institution but for more satisfactorily ensuring that his works particularly had direct positive impacts on the lives of the populations that the law firm served via its community driven programs and legal activities.
He has been praised for having a perfect mastery of the terrain and being gifted in developing result-guided solutions tailored to meet the requirements of the populations he served.
Inspiring lives beyond national borders
Barrister Derek Invo’s projects and interventions as a legal practitioner span beyond the national territory. He has rendered services to multiple international legal institutions across the African continent and beyond. The youthful sensation has been serving as a legal analyst, advocate and case reporter for Pan African legal body, the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, in the last over seven years. Through the CHRDA platform, he has teamed up with several of his peers at the international level in finding solutions that meet the demand of African communities, providing solutions tailored for the continent’s realities.
As part of the continent-wide coverage which flagged off during his academic journey when he studied in the Nigeria Law School in Kano, he has also made groundbreaking strides working as an advocate, solicitor and notary public of the Supreme Courts of Cameroon and Nigeria, resultantly strengthening his personal capacity to better serve inside and outside the national borders.
Groundbreaking research and publication
Barrister Derek Invo has authored several pieces, both academic and professional, as part of his larger initiatives to have a lasting influence on the present generation and lay solid foundation for future stars across different milieus. He has published pieces touching on the ethics of legal practice, technical and commercial colleges and the sustainability of natural resources and wildlife through the putting in place or respect of environmental laws.
The most recent of the pieces were published in 2023 titled “Cameroon Municipal Police” and “Professional Ethics and Skills of Legal Practice in Cameroon” notably digging deep into the activities of the works of municipal police in Cameroon and the professional ethics of legal practice in the country. He had before then, published “Law, and the “Integrated Approach for Technical and Commercial Colleges in Cameroon” in 2014, a year after dropping another piece on “Law and Government for Cameroon Colleges”, revised edition in 2016 in a far-reaching scheme aimed at playing a frontline role in addressing years of concern raised about the educational system in the country.
In 2022, he published another academic publication on “The Role of Cameroon Environmental Law in Sustaining Natural Resources and Protecting Wildlife”, 11 years after releasing “Courts with Special jurisdiction in Cameroon” in 2011.
A solid team player
Barrister Derek Invo is a member of multiple legal and social associations. At the continental level, he is a member of the African Bar Association, AFBA, the Nigerian Law Association, NLA and the Common Law Lawyers Association, CCLA. In Cameroon, he is a member of the Cameroon Bar Association, CBA and the Fako Lawyers Association, FAKLA. He is also an active member of Buea Based Lawyers Association and Dynamic Buea Based Lawyers Association, DBBLA.
Rich academic background
Barrister Derek Invo studied law at the University of Buea and bagged a second-class honors degree in the Nigeria Law School in Kano. He obtained his GCE Advanced Level at Saint Joseph’s College in Buea in 2008, two years after bagging the GCE Ordinary Level at Government High School Bokwango-Buea.
Acknowledged hard work
Over the years, Barrister Derek Invo’s activities have earned him multiple distinctions. One of the most recent was handed to him by the Fako Lawyers Association “in recognition for his commitment and service to the association.” In 2004, he was decorated with the Citizenship Award following a training on citizenship by the British Counsel and the Canadian Embassy on the organization, participation in elections and the rights of voters. He also secured the Certificate of Recognition for championing justice in the Department of Law of the University of Buea.
