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KEY POINTS FROM THE TEXT OF THE ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE 48TH ANNUAL NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW TEACHERS (NALT) CONFERENCE HOLDING AT AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO - EKITI, ON JUNE 1, 2015

By

Aare Afe Babalola,SANFounder/Chancellor, ABUAD

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PROTOCOL

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Introduction:You are welcome to Afe Babalola University,

Ado - EkitiMy appreciation to the Conference OrganizersMy special tribute to NALT President and

Provost, College of Law, Associate Professor Smaranda Olarinde.

My thanks to the members of the Conference Committee and I am sure that at the end of the Conference, you would have justified the Conference Venue choice as indeed the best.

ABUAD...a VISION in MOTION

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Law Teachers are experts and specialists in Law:Law teachers are experts and specialists in Law who create, develop and impart legal knowledge to would-be lawyers.

They are mothers to lawyers and world leaders including Head of States and Attorney General.

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Law Profession: Imported into Nigeria:Law profession was imported from England. In the past both lawyers and judges were honoured and respected.

In Nigeria things have changed for the worse.ABUAD...a VISION in MOTION

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Quality of Education: FundingEducation has been badly affected due to paucity of

funds. UNESCO recommends at least 25% of national budget of every country for education.

Budgetary allocation by Nigeria averages 7% per annum. North California State University in the United States of America voted over $7billion dollars in 2012.

However, the budgetary allocation by federal government is about 41% of North California State University.

There is no way the quality of education in Nigeria public university can equal that of North California State University.

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Admission into Colleges of Law:Admission to Law College in US, Germany

etc is not open to teenagers. A factor responsible for low standard is that

admission into Law Colleges is school certificate.

In the past it was GCE, A Level or HSC. In a country like United States of America, Law is studied as a second degree.

ABUAD...a VISION in MOTION

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Law School:The centralisation of the law school which is

poorly funded has the effect of curtailing the number of students who wish to practice law.

Reputable College of Law should be allowed to train lawyers for 18 months preparatory to taking a common exam for the BAR.

The law school should be a regulatory and an examining body only.

ABUAD...a VISION in MOTION

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Interdisciplinary Approach to Legal Education:Legal knowledge needs to be combined with

other forms of expertise. The university’s provision of interdisciplinary

and outreaching model of entrepreneurship education.

The university offers 28 physical education sports programmes.

Nigerian law faculties need to enlarge and broaden their research interest and methods.

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Appointment of SAN:Any applicant who has qualified for the

award by the Privilege Committee should be appointed SAN.

When does an applicant who is qualified become unqualified? i.e. Selection of 15 out of about 70 qualified lawyers leads to the “man-know man” syndrome.

All those who qualify should be promoted to the rank of SAN.

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Private University and TETFUND:In 1999, the Federal Government found that

Public Universities could not fully accommodate majority of qualified candidates and enacted a law allowing individuals or organization to establish private university.

TETFUND was established as an intervention fund. TETFUND Act imposes a 2% to Education Tax Act on registered companies in Nigeria

The intent of the law is to use the tax money collected for advancement of education at different levels.

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Private University and TETFUND:However private universities were excluded. It

is unconstitutional, unfair and unsatisfactoryIf the fund is made available to everybody who

establishes private university, there is the probability of abuse.

A way out is to make the fund available to private universities which operate on a permanent site with minimum of 20 accreditation programmes and which have commenced Post Graduate Course.

ABUAD...a VISION in MOTION

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Pace Setter University:ABUAD was established to reform education

and lead by example. In a space of five years, it has been described

by stakeholders (national and international) in glowing tribute as “a pace setter”, “fastest growing private university in Africa”, “benchmark”, “model”, “reference point”, “template for engineering education”, “best law college in West Africa” and “world class university”.

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Pace Setter University:Some of the landmarks already recorded

include four new programmes – Mechatronics; Social Justice; Intelligence and Security Studies; Human Biology and talent discovery centre with 26 indoor facilities and 24 skill acquisition facilities.

These can be found on our website; www.abuad.edu.ng

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Books and Journals:ABUAD which is reputed for excellence has

published many journals. Books and Journals include Food &

Agricultural Law : Readings on Sustainable Agriculture and the Law in Nigeria.

Another book recently published in England to which I am a contributor is titled: The Product Regulatory and Liability Review.

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Books and Journals:The book contains expert reviews from 19

countries from America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Although the price of £250 is high having regard to the value of our currency, it is a must buy book for all lawyers because of its contents and international coverage.

It is a must have by any university of law

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Books and Journals: University Publication

COLLEGE OF LAW AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY LAW JOURNAL VOLUME 1 (2013)AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY LAW JOURNAL VOLUME 2 (2014)JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LAW AND POLICY,

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1, (2013)JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LAW AND POLICY,

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1, (2013)JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LAW AND POLICY,

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1, (2014) ABUAD JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL LAW,

VOLUME 1 (2015)

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Books and Journals: University PublicationCOLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BANKING, FINANCE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

JOURNAL OF STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENTABUAD NEWSABUAD MIRRORJOURNALS OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT

SCIENCESFINANCING ‘SME’ TO PROMOTE ECONOMICS

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Books and Journals:All these books and journals from other publishers are on display.

Please take time to visit the book stands

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Conclusion:The testimony of Mr. Scott Royster is enough to

arouse sufficient curiosity about our university so much so that you would be eager to see with your eyes what NUC described as miracle and magic.

I look forward to reading your comment on ABUAD

Once more, I express my profound appreciation to all of you for affording me the opportunity of speaking to you and also for being patient with me

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