PROFILE OF THE
NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES, NIALS
The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is Nigeria's apex institution for research and advanced studies in law. It was a brainchild of the legal academic community established in March 1979. One of the main ideas in founding the Institute was to establish it as a centre for advanced legal research for all the Nigerian universities with Faculties of Law, so that all postgraduate work could be undertaken there under the joint auspices of the most experienced and learned academic lawyers available in the country, whether indigenous or foreign. The Library would be the best equipped collection of law books and publications. This would, no doubt, assist in resolving the difficulties hampering the organization of postgraduate studies needed to fill in the gaps in the training of Nigerian lawyers at the time.
At inception, the Institute was funded with generous financial and academic support from external agencies such as the Ford Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Such assistance, however, declined over time. The National Universities Commission also funded the Institute through the University of Lagos until 1984 when by virtue of Decree No. 18 of June 27, the Institute became autonomous under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Justice. This development greatly enhanced the mandate and institutional capacity of the Institute to discharge its functions.
Additionally, in 1995 the enabling law of the Institute, now fully incorporated into the Laws of the Federation 2004 as section 4(c), Cap. N112, was amended to mandate the Institute to run post-graduate courses in legislative drafting. Consequently, the Institute's Post-graduate School (PGS) was established in 1997 as the Post-graduate Studies Unit with the sole aim of running a Post-graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting (PGDLD) and Masters Degree in Legislative Drafting (M. LD.). This was the first of its kind, not only in Nigeria but in Africa. The Institute has also recently commenced a PhD Programme in Legislative Drafting.
MANDATE/FUNCTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE
The mandate and functions of the Institute as set out in it enabling law include:
(a) providing information, supervision, guidance and advice to post-graduate students and other researchers who are working for post-graduate degree of any University in the field of law and related subjects;
(b) conducting research into any branch of the law or related subjects with a view to the application of the results thereof in the interest of Nigeria;
(c) conducting courses of instruction in legislative drafting leading to the award of post-graduate diploma or a post-graduate degree;
(d) regularly organizing, hosting, arranging and conducting national and international seminars, symposia, conferences, workshops and lectures on any branch of the law or related subjects;
(e) preparing and publishing books, records, reports, journals as may seem desirable, for the dissemination of research findings, seminars, symposia, conferences, findings of workshops and lectures;
(f) co-operating with Nigerian universities, the Nigerian Law School, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission and such other bodies, within and outside Nigeria, engaged in any major field relating to law reform, development or research in the mobilization of Nigeria's research potentials for the task of national development and dissemination of research findings for the use of policy makers at all levels;
(g) carrying out other activities as are necessary and expedient for the full discharge of any of its functions as provided in the enabling law.
As can be seen from the foregoing, the statutory functions of the Institute emphasise the need to conduct research into legal and related matters to enhance national development and the application of the results of such research to the country's needs. Of particular importance is the task of disseminating “research findings for the use of policy makers at all levels.” The Institute, therefore, has the mandate to plan legal research and relate it to both the long and short term socio-developmental aspirations of the country.
The Institute thus occupies a strategic place within the scheme of things to re-orient legal research and in particular, reflect the changing tendencies, perspectives and philosophies that define Nigeria's and Africa's role in the international economic and political order.
Consequently, the Institute's research ultimately not only contributes to policy making but also helps to build a body of knowledge of the legal order tailored towards meeting Nigeria's needs.
All through the years, the Institute has lived up to its name, taking giant strides in the fulfillment of its mandate. Its anniversary, the highlight of which is usually an anniversary lecture delivered by a renowned national or foreign legal luminary is marked every year. In May 2009, the Institute celebrated its 30th Anniversary in a grand style. Highlights of the event included, among others:
- an anniversary lecture delivered by one of Africa's foremost constitutional law experts, Professor Ben Nwabueze, on the topic “Judicialism and Good Governance in Africa”;
- a week long arts exhibition focused on Nigeria's constitutional history, at the end of which cash awards were given to the best three artists;
- the fourth Institute Fellows Dialogue;
- Public presentation of the two volumes of the first part of the Laws of Nigeria's Project on the Criminal Justice Administration Sector; and
- anniversary dinner
Since the inception of the new management headed by Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN in May 2009, a host of innovations have come into place. A few of which are outlined below:
The Institute in recent times has engaged other institutions outside the country in collaborative undertakings, such as the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies London, the British Institute for International and Comparative Law, the School of Oriental and African Studies and the University of Southampton. Within the country, the Institute is partnering with a number of institutions such as the National Industrial Court, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.
S. M. A. BELGORE'S PROFESSORIAL CHAIR
The first Professorial Chair at the Institute took off in October 2009. The Chair, known as S. M. A. Belgore Professorial Chair in Law and Development is occupied by Professor Nnamdi Aduba of the University of Jos. Justice Belgore endowed the Chair as a result of his keen interest in the rule of law, fairness and transparency in the administration of justice
CONVOCATION
On the 12th of December 2009, the Institute held its first ever convocation ceremonies for the award of post-graduate degree and diploma to all the students that had graduated from the PGS from 1997 to 2007. The award ceremonies were preceded by the Hon. Justice Adolphus G. Karibi-Whyte Convocation Lecture titled Dissenting Judgments and Judicial Law Making. The lecture was delivered by Hon. Justice George A. Oguntade, JSC, CON, FNIALS on the 11th of December, 2009, at the Ayo Ajomo Auditorium of the Institute, under the distinguished chairmanship of the then Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, who also delivered the keynote address at the award ceremonies.
As part of the ceremonies, the Institute Fellowship was conferred on two distinguished and deserving members of the legal profession, Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke, the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the late Hon. Justice Olakunle Orojo. The occasion was also used to unveil and present to the public, Institute's latest book project, Rule of Law and Good Governance. This work is Institute's contribution to the ongoing discuss on “the Rule of Law”, one of the key aspects of the present government's Seven-Points agenda . The work examines the concept of the rule of law and good governance from different perspectives - constitutional, economic and developmental as well as the role of the judiciary and access to justice.
The beauty of this contribution is that it examines the concept of the rule of law more from its practical application, than mere expositions of conceptual and academic issues.
The Institute, under the new leadership has initiated a number of roundtables in different areas of the Law as part of its contribution to the development and shaping of government policies and plans. Examples of the Roundtables include: Terrorism in the Aviation Industry; Evaluation of Judicial Integrity Assessment Index Since 1999 in Nigeria; Frontloading: Challenges and Implications for the Speedy Dispensation of Justice; Kidnapping and Abduction: Challenges for National Security; Telecommunications Offenses: Unveiling of Borderless Criminality; and The Legal Dynamics of Investment in Solid Minerals in Nigeria.
The Institute has instituted a number of Lecture Series to complement the existing public lectures and also meet with the challenges of our times. The new Lectures Series include: the New Frontiers Lecture, the Diaspora's Scholars Lecture .
ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONAL OFFICES
The creation of zonal offices in the Institute is a useful tool for balancing the geopolitical considerations and interests of the country. It is imperative to state that the Institute has come of age and its services and clientele have become much more enlarged than envisaged at its establishment in 1979. In order to remain relevant and retain its place as the foremost legal research and training centre in Nigeria, the institute has created zonal offices and engaged with clientele on a closer level.
The Institute has established designated centers of research in specialized fields; such as the designated centre for Oil and Gas Law in Asaba, due to its proximate research and resources in Oil and Gas Law. The centre for Energy and Solid Minerals Law will be to focus its research activities around Makurdi and its environs where solid minerals abound. In the same vain, Enugu, Maiduguri and Kano are vital to other designated centres and activities of the Institute.
If the institute must meet the challenges of its times and discharge its mandate, then it must of necessity embrace the idea of zonalisation by creating zonal offices in the 6 geo-political zones of the country.
LLM AND PHD PROGRAMME
In 1997, the institute carefully structured Post-graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting. As a result of the success of this pilot scheme, the institute introduced a 12-month LLM Degree, Programme in Legislative Drafting in 1999 to run alongside the Diploma Course. Institutions therefore have the option of Sponsoring students for either of the courses, depending on logistics and other relevant considerations. The LLM is, as should be expected, substantially more enhanced and deeper in coverage than the diploma. In the 2009 the Governing Council of the institute, in accordance with the Institute enabling law, approved the commencement of a PhD programme in Legislative Drafting. This is the first of its type in Africa.
POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
As a response to the identifiable problems of organizing postgraduate studies in Nigerian Universities arising from a dearth of library facilities and adequate supervision of postgraduate studies, the institute as one of its functions is providing information, supervision, guidance and advice to postgraduate students and other researchers working for a postgraduate degree of any University in the field of Law and related subjects
EXCELLENT RESEARCH CENTRES
The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies has created Centers of Excellence in the Institute to drive the Institutes research and training mandate. With the establishment of the Centres, the Institute is poised to continue to lead research in Nigeria and take it to greater heights, by exploring new areas of law.
Since proper research requires substantial strategic investments to provide the needed environment and facilities, money and commitment are needed. The centers are thus named after high net worth individuals who have distinguished themselves in their career and demonstrated manifest interest and commitment in the subject area.
THE LIBRARY
The Institute Library occupies a unique place in the Institute as it is pivotal to the effective discharge of the Institute functions. The Library supports the advanced studies and research activities of the institute staff, institute training seminars/ workshops and, generally provides basic research tools for the entire country with its collection of materials, which have developed overtime. The Library has over the years, grown and cover an array of not only priceless collection of African and European legal materials but also materials from America, Asia and other parts of the globe. The Director General has recently accepted to fund the purchase of new books and is working towards the initiative of a virtual library.
WEBSITE
The Institute has uninterrupted Internet connectivity; readers can also access a range of online resources, including Hein online, which the institute subscribes to. In addition, the resuscitation of the institute's website will enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of the Library's rich resources to its users.
All of these make ease and speed in research. It can therefore be said that the Institute Library still maintains its pride of place as one of the best in Africa.
NIALS PUBLICATIONS
The Institute publishes a number of Journals and Periodicals to disseminate research findings. Among such publications are:
- The Nigerian Current Law Review.
- Nigerian Contemporary Legal Problems
- The NIALS Law Series
- NIALS Books/ Conference Series
- NIALS Research Series
- NIALS Commemorative Series
- NIALS Occasional Paper Series
- NIALS Founders’ Day Lecture Series
