The Legal Education Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for urgent and increased funding for legal education in Nigeria to produce practice-ready lawyers capable of contributing meaningfully to the nation’s social and economic development.
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This call was made during the inaugural Regional Townhall Workshop on Legal Education, held at Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri. The event is part of ongoing efforts by the NBA, under the leadership of its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, to reposition legal education in Nigeria. Earlier, Osigwe inaugurated the NBA Legal Education Committee (NBA-LEC), chaired by Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, SAN, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), to promote functional and globally competitive legal education through targeted training and conferences.
The maiden edition of the Regional Townhall Workshop recorded a large turnout of over 300 participants, including law teachers, students, and key stakeholders. Among those present were the Vice Chancellor of IMSU, Prof. Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze, SAN; Chairman of the NBA-LEC Townhall Workshop Series, Prof. Chimezie Kingsley Okorie, SAN; and representatives from Abia State University, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Imo State University, and Enugu State University of Science and Technology, who made presentations on the current state of legal education in Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, Professor Olawuyi, SAN, stressed the urgent need to overhaul Nigeria’s legal education system to meet global standards. He emphasized revising outdated curricula, leveraging technology, and increasing investment in infrastructure across law faculties. “There is an urgent need to increase investment in learning infrastructure if we are to actively deploy technology-based teaching methods. Only a few law faculties have functional ICT centres, modern equipment, and digital libraries needed to instil entrepreneurial and project management skills in our law students,” he noted, calling for joint efforts from government, the NBA, alumni, and private stakeholders.
The Vice Chancellor of IMSU, Prof. Chukwumaeze, SAN, reinforced the call, urging all stakeholders in the justice sector to support legal education by donating educational materials and resources. Similarly, Prof. Okorie, SAN, stressed the importance of the NBA serving as a bridge between law faculties and relevant authorities to ensure stronger collaboration for the future of legal education.
During roundtable discussions, participants highlighted major challenges facing law faculties, including infrastructure deficits, poor remuneration and heavy workloads for law teachers, limited access to legal resources, and chronic underfunding, particularly in opportunities to attend conferences. These challenges, they argued, are contributing to the falling standards of law practice and ethical decline in the profession.
Despite the setbacks, some institutions showcased achievements such as upgraded digital law libraries, largely supported by alumni and donor contributions.
The Workshop commended the NBA leadership for initiating the Townhall Series and called for the swift implementation of the NBA Legal Education Endowment Fund to mobilize financial support for infrastructure and technology upgrades in law faculties. Participants also recommended stronger collaboration through joint research projects, tailored research programs, and subsidized conferences for academic lawyers to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the legal profession.
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