The Nigerian Association of Law Teachers, NALT, has called for the repositioning of law as a central instrument for Nigeria’s national development, economic renewal, and democratic integrity.
Speaking at the 56th NALT Annual Conference in Abuja, the National President of the association, Prof Oluwole Akintayo, said the rule of law must serve and build the foundation of market efficiency and the engineering of human dignity.
“As law teachers, we have the privilege and duty to ensure that our students, the next generation of jurists and policy makers, internalize this delicate balance,” he said.
Akintayo said the law must move from being a “passive spectator” to an “active architect” of national progress.
“Our theme, National Development and Economic Sustainability in a Globalized World, could not be more timely and more consequential.
“It situates us at the intersection of law, economics, and governance, challenging us to interrogate the role of law not as a passive spectator, but as an active architect of Nigeria’s development aspirations in an era defined by global integration, technological disruption, and shifting geopolitical realities,” he said.
According to him, law structures incentives, mediates relationships, and institutionalizes accountability, adding that every serious national conversation must engage with the legal frameworks that enable development.
He described as “a proud moment” the appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, a NALT trustee and former dean, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying it offers the association an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to strengthening electoral jurisprudence and democratic governance.
“Electoral justice lies at the foundation of democratic legitimacy and sustainable development; a credible electoral system strengthens national cohesion and promotes public trust,” he said.
He commended the University of Abuja for hosting the conference for the first time since its establishment in 1988 and urged law teachers to mentor the next generation to use law as a tool for justice, inclusion, and national transformation.
The Conference with the theme “National Development and Economic Sustainability in a Globalized World,” brought together eminent scholars, deans, and legal practitioners from universities across the country.
On his part, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of NALT, Prof Ademola Popoola, warned that globalization, though hailed as a force for progress, has deepened inequality and left many developing nations worse off.
Popoola said while globalization offers opportunities, its benefits have largely eluded poorer countries.
“Many developing nations have opened their economies with little to show for it, as rapid financial and trade liberalization continues to cause economic losses and social dislocation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, urged the nation’s legal experts to partner with the Commission in reforming the system.
Amupitan described the event as “a momentous occasion” that brought him before his mentors and colleagues in the legal profession.
The INEC Chairman said law remains a vital instrument of social and political engineering, stressing that national development and economic sustainability are impossible without strong legal foundations.
“Law is not merely a set of rules but the foundation upon which societies build progress. It guides ethical governance, fosters economic opportunities, and upholds citizens’ rights,” he stated.
Amupitan acknowledged that while the National Assembly has made progress in amending the Electoral Act, more needs to be done to strengthen the framework for credible elections.
