21st Century Legal Education Requires Lecturers To Turn Mobile Phones Into Classrooms — Prof Akinola

*Adds That Professional Ethics Is The Foundation Upon Which Corporate Governance And The Production Of 21^st Century Lawyer Is Built

A Law Professor at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Prof. Omoniyi Akinola has advocated for the adoption of technology in legal education in Nigeria. He made the call at the 9^th inaugural lecture of the University held at its campus on Thursday.

At the lecture which was themed: “Confluence of professional ethics, corporate governance and the training of lawyers in the 21^st century”, Prof Akinola painstakingly identified several challenges affecting the study of law in Nigeria and proffered solutions to them.

In the course of his paper presentation, he advocated for an attitudinal reorientation of legal educators and the revival of law clinics. He further stressed on the need for legal educators to adopt technology in training 21^st century lawyers, noting that students in this dispensation are more glued to their devices and therefore learning should be carried out on such platforms.

According to him, “We also recommend that we should now turn those mobile phones through the use of technology to the students’ classrooms. Their attention these days is more on their phone. I send my lectures to my students on their phones because I know that is the only thing they will read. If you take it to the library, they will not read it there. So we have to use technology like holding classes on Google Meet and other platforms. We must encourage the use of technology while transmitting the value to them.”

The Academic also emphasized the importance of professional ethics in the legal profession describing itas “the spine upon which corporate governance and the production of 21^st century lawyers lie.” He therefore called for intentionality in inculcating core standards and ethics to law students.

On a final note, Prof Akinola warned parents against forcing their wards to study law, encouraging them to only guide students in decision making with respect to their careers.