Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abuja, Nigeria — The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban‑Mensem, has formally called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun, to initiate the process of elevating the Nigerian Judicial Institute (NJI) to full university status. The initiative aims to institutionalise judicial education, leverage the expertise of retired judicial officers, and strengthen the capacity of the judiciary nationwide.
Justice Dongban‑Mensem made the appeal during a special sitting in Abuja held to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Court of Appeal and to honour the Presiding Justice of the Abuja Division, Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, who is due to retire in April 2026. She emphasised that the court’s celebration was not only about marking decades of service but also about charting a path for future judicial excellence.
At the core of her message was the belief that transforming the NJI into a university would create a structured platform for continuous judicial learning, research, and professional development, where experienced judges, including those who have retired, could continue contributing through teaching, mentorship, and advisory roles. The initiative is designed to reduce reliance on external training programmes that often do not fully address the unique needs of Nigeria’s legal system.
“Such a transformation will provide a veritable platform for retiring jurists to continue to contribute their vast knowledge, experience, and wisdom to the growth and development of the judiciary,” Justice Dongban‑Mensem said, noting that retired judges’ expertise could greatly enhance judicial education and performance.
The Nigerian Judicial Institute, established under the National Judicial Institute Act, currently conducts workshops, training sessions, and continuing education courses for judges, magistrates, court staff, and legal officers. Its mandate includes promoting uniformity and efficiency in judicial services and strengthening legal knowledge across the judiciary. However, it does not presently have the authority to award academic degrees or formal qualifications like a university.
Justice Dongban‑Mensem’s proposal envisions a broader role for the NJI, allowing it to offer accredited academic programmes, diplomas, and potentially degree courses tailored to judicial and legal education. Such a Judicial University could bridge gaps between theoretical legal training and practical judicial competence, providing courses in areas such as judicial administration, legal research, dispute resolution, ethics, and specialised fields like cyber law, environmental justice, and comparative jurisprudence.
Supporters argue that Nigeria’s judiciary faces significant challenges, including case backlogs, the need for continuous professional development, and the necessity to keep pace with increasingly complex legal issues. A university‑level institution devoted exclusively to judicial education would provide a central hub for research and training, ideally staffed by both seasoned jurists and academic scholars.
Retired judges would be key contributors, offering decades of on‑bench experience that is currently underutilised after retirement. Their continued engagement in training and mentorship would help deepen institutional memory and improve the quality of decision‑making across Nigerian courts.
The plan also aligns with broader discourse within Nigeria’s legal community on education, professional development, and the need for a judiciary equipped to handle modern legal challenges, including technological integration, international law complexities, and evolving standards of ethics and court administration.
The elevation to university status will require legal and institutional changes, including amendments to the existing NJI Act and approval from the National Universities Commission. Justice Dongban‑Mensem has called on the Chief Justice and lawmakers to support the initiative and engage in consultations to reshape the institute’s mandate and legal status.
Questions remain about funding, governance, and curriculum development, as well as how a Judicial University would complement existing law faculties and judicial training programmes. Careful planning and resource allocation will be essential to ensure success without duplicating existing educational roles.
Legal practitioners, scholars, and civil society advocates see the initiative as a potentially transformative step that could elevate judicial standards, promote professional excellence, and foster greater public confidence in the justice system.
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