- March 7, 2025
- Posted by: itmanager
- Category: Uncategorized
In a bold call to action, legal scholars, practitioners, and students in Nigeria have been urged to embrace digital transformation or risk being left behind in the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
This critical message resonated powerfully during a high-impact webinar themed “Digital Law, Digital Learning: Transforming Legal Education in the 21st Century,” hosted via Zoom on Thursday, March 6, 2025, by the Nigerian Bar Association Legal Education Committee (NBA-LEC). The event sparked compelling discussions on the urgency of integrating AI into Nigeria’s legal education and practice.
ABUAD Leads the AI Revolution in Legal Education
Speaking as a panelist, the Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, underscored the necessity of continuous training to keep pace with global advancements.
“To remain competitive in an AI-driven world, rigorous training is non-negotiable,” she asserted, sharing her personal experience of completing an intensive three-month AI training program offered by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE) under the leadership of Distinguished Emeritus Prof. Peter A. Okebukola in 2024.
While acknowledging the current lack of a robust AI regulatory framework in Nigeria, Prof. Olarinde revealed that ABUAD has proactively developed its own AI policy to set a precedent for responsible and ethical AI integration in legal education. She also urged academics to take the lead in AI adoption, citing the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) as a key driver of AI awareness and ethical implementation.
AI as a Global Equalizer in Education
Adding an international perspective, Vice-Chancellor of Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Prof. Nathalie Martial-Braz,delivered a compelling keynote address, advocating for open access to AI tools in digital learning.
“Better use of digital tools will bridge the gap between underdeveloped, developing, and developed countries,” she stated, emphasizing AI’s transformative power as a great equalizer in global education and legal practice.
AI-Powered Legal Solutions: A Nigerian Perspective
Expanding on AI’s potential in governance and legal administration, Ajibola Odukoya, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AfriLabs, lauded Nigeria’s strides in AI development. He highlighted Service-Wise GPT, an AI-driven system trained on the Nigerian Constitution, Public Service Rules, and statutory regulations, showcasing AI’s capacity to streamline legal and administrative processes.
He, however, stressed that Nigeria must take more decisive steps to fully harness the benefits of digitization. “Nigeria can learn from Rwanda,” Odukoya concluded, urging for a more structured approach to AI implementation in governance.
A Call to Action for Nigeria’s Legal Community
The event, masterfully hosted by NBA-LEC Chairman, Prof. Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, and moderated by Dayo Ashonibare, a lecturer at Baze University, served as a catalyst for reshaping legal education in Nigeria.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Olawuyi who is also ABUAD’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships (ARISP) commended the panelists for their invaluable contributions and the participants for their thought-provoking questions. “The depth and breadth of discussions, particularly concerns about cost and infrastructure, demonstrate how insightful and impactful this session has been,” he remarked, and reaffirmed the NBA-LEC’s commitment to advancing legal education through innovative, technology-driven solutions that ensure accessibility, relevance, and global competitiveness.
The Future is Now: Will Nigeria Seize the AI Opportunity?
As the engaging two-hour webinar drew to a close, one crucial question lingered:
“How far and/or how close is Nigeria to AI-driven legal transformation?”
The answer now rests in the hands of legal professionals, educators, and policymakers who must spearhead a future where AI enhances justice, strengthens legal education, and fuels national progress.
The digital revolution is here and Nigeria must rise to the challenge.
FROM THE VC’S DESK