Nigeria’s Council for Legal Education, CLE, has released a list of 114 universities approved to run law programmes across the country.
Secretary and Director of Administration at CLE, Aderonke Osho, in a circular issued on Friday, said only institutions on the list are permitted to admit students into the Bachelor of Laws, LL.B, programme in Nigeria.
The council cautioned universities against admitting candidates into law programmes without its authorisation, stressing that such actions violate the regulatory framework governing legal education in the country.
“The public is hereby notified that any university admitting students into a Law programme without the approval of the Council of Legal Education is acting in breach of the provisions regulating legal education in Nigeria and will be liable to sanctions in line with existing regulations and policies,” the circular stated.
The council further warned prospective students and parents to verify the accreditation status of universities before seeking admission into law programmes. According to the CLE, graduates of law faculties in institutions that lack its approval will not be eligible for admission into the Nigerian Law School.
The regulatory body added that the list of approved universities would be reviewed and updated periodically in line with its statutory responsibility to oversee legal education in Nigeria.
Among the institutions cleared to run law programmes are prominent universities such as Ahmadu Bello University, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin and University of Benin, alongside several federal, state and private universities nationwide.
However, the council noted that some institutions on the list are currently under temporary restrictions on admissions into their law faculties.
These include Baze University, which is under a three-year moratorium from the 2023/2024 to the 2025/2026 academic sessions; Lead City University, which faces a five-year suspension of admissions from the 2023/2024 to the 2027/2028 session; and the Nigeria Police Academy, which has a two-year admission suspension covering the 2024/2025 to the 2025/2026 academic sessions.
The CLE reiterated that only graduates from approved law faculties are qualified to proceed to the Nigerian Law School for professional legal training and subsequent call to the Nigerian Bar.
The full list of approved institutions include: Abia State University, Uturu; Achievers University, Owo; Adamawa State University, Mubi; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Adeleke University, Ede; Admiralty University, Ibusa; Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria;
Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo; Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri; Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin; Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike; and American University of Nigeria, Yola.
Also approved were Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Anchor University, Ayobo; Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo; Ave-Maria University, Piyanko; Azman University, Kano; Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo; Bauchi State University, Gadau; Bayero University, Kano; and Baze University, Abuja, Moratorium on admission for three years with effect from 2023/2024 till 2025/2026 session as approved by the Council,
Others are Benson Idahosa University, Benin City; Bingham University, Karu; Bowen University, Iwo; Caleb University, Imota; Chrisland University, Abeokuta;
Christopher University; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam; Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara; Crescent University, Abeokuta; Delta State University, Abraka; Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki; Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo; Edo University, Iyamho; and Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
Also approved were El-Amin University, Minna; Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin; Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma; Federal University, Lokoja; Federal University, Otuoke; Federal University, Wukari; Fountain University, Osogbo; Godfrey Okoye University; Gombe State University; Gregory University, Uturu; Hensard University, Toru-Orua; Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Igbinedion University, Okada; Imo State University, Owerri; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko; and Koladaisi University, Ibadan.
Approval was also given to Kwara State University, Malete; Lagos State University, Ojo; Lead City University, Ibadan, Moratorium on admission for five years with effect from 2023/2024 till 2027/2028 session as approved by the Council; Madonna University, Okija; Maduka University, Margaret Lawrence University, Abuja; Maryam Abacha American University, Kano; McPherson University, Seriki-Sotayo; Mewar International University, Masaka; Modibbo Adama University, Yola; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; and Newgate University, Minna.
Other Universities also approved are Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island; Nigerian-British University, Asa; Nile University, Abuja; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; North-Eastern University; Northwest University, Kano, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano;
Northwest University, Kalambaina, Wamakko; Novena University, Ogume; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye; Osun State University, Osogbo; Peter University, Achina/Onnch; Philomath University, Abuja; and Plateau State University, Bokkos;
Also approved were Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Moratorium on admission for two years with effect from 2024/2025 till 2025/2026 session as approved by the Council; Prime University, Abuja; Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; Rayhaan University, Birnin-Kebbi; Redeemer’s University, Ede; Renaissance University, Ugbawka; Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi; Rivers State University, Port Harcourt;
Salem University, Lokoja; Sam Maris University, Supare-Akoko; Shanahan University, Onitsha; and
Skyline University, Kano.
Other Universities approved are
Taraba State University, Jalingo;
Thomas Adewunmi University, Oko-Irese; Topfaith University, Mkpatak;
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, University of Abuja; University of Benin, Benin City; University of Calabar; University of Delta, Agbor; University of Ibadan, Ibadan, University of Ilesa; University of Ilorin; University of Jos, Jos; University of Lagos; University of Maiduguri; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Port Harcourt; University of Uyo; University on the Niger, Umunya; Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto; Veritas University, Bwari; Wesley University, Ondo; and Yobe State University, Damaturu.
