NBA President Praised For Prioritising Legal Education In Inaugural Address
The newly appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Legal Education Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, SAN, has commended NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, for prioritizing legal education in his inaugural address.
In his speech, Osigwe emphasized his commitment to reforming the legal profession over the next two years, beginning with the immediate establishment of the NBA Legal Education Committee. This move, he stated, is aimed at driving significant improvements in legal education across the country.
Osigwe outlined the committee’s mandate, which includes presenting the NBA’s position on the reform and development of legal education in Nigeria, advocating for a review of curricula in law faculties and the Nigerian Law School to align with contemporary global standards, and proposing criteria for the employment and retraining of law lecturers. The committee will also focus on improving infrastructure at Nigerian Law School campuses, engaging practicing lawyers in teaching, and introducing a mentorship scheme for aspiring lawyers that starts in law faculties and continues through law school.
In addition, the NBA Legal Education Committee will work to establish an Endowment Fund for Legal Education, aimed at supporting law teachers in conducting research that advances the justice sector, promotes constitutionalism, and furthers academic development in Nigeria.
Upon his appointment as chairman of the committee, Professor Olawuyi, a renowned legal scholar and United Nations Independent Expert, expressed his appreciation for the NBA President’s focus on legal education. He highlighted the need for reform, noting that the legal profession has consistently called for a reimagining of legal education in Nigeria, particularly in developing practice-ready lawyers who can contribute to the nation’s growth.
“By identifying the reform of legal education as his top priority, the NBA President Mazi Osigwe, SAN, has shown a commendable and exemplary desire to lead transformational innovation in our training of future lawyers,” Olawuyi said.
He further emphasized that legal education must evolve to keep pace with the changing demands of society. “Knowing the law alone is no longer sufficient to succeed in today’s world. We need lawyers who are skilled in business management, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and equipped with market awareness and entrepreneurship skills,” he added, stressing the importance of preparing lawyers for emerging areas of law such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space law, and renewable energy.
Professor Olawuyi concluded by expressing optimism about the committee’s role in advancing legal education and called on all stakeholders to engage actively with the NBA Legal Education Committee in this critical task.
