Council Of Legal Education Approves Law Programs For Seven New Universities
The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has given approval for seven newer universities to start offering undergraduate law degrees, while also raising admission limits for several long-established schools.
The announcement was made during the CLE’s fourth virtual meeting of the year, held on October 28, 2025, and chaired by Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN.
The goal is to meet the rising need for well-trained lawyers as Nigeria’s justice system and economy continue to evolve.
The recommendations, submitted by the Board of Studies led by Director-General Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, show a clear push to spread legal education more evenly across the country. Many of the newly approved schools are in regions that have long struggled with limited access to professional training.
Three institutions, however, did not receive approval because their facilities and staffing fell short of the CLE’s requirements.
Provisional approval for seven universities
The CLE has granted temporary accreditation to the following institutions, allowing them to begin LL.B. programs with an initial intake of 50 first-year students. Accreditation teams will conduct follow-up checks to ensure the schools stay compliant:
- Peter University, Achina/Onneh, Anambra
- Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra
- Northwest University, Sokoto
- Wesley University, Ondo
- Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno
- Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger
- Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa
These new programs are expected to help expand the country’s pool of legal professionals, with training focused on areas such as constitutional law, human rights, and commercial practice.
Many people see this expansion as an important step toward giving students from underserved areas a fairer chance at legal education.
Approvals withheld for three institutions
The CLE declined applications from:
- Paul University, Awka
- Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife
- Clifford University, Owerrinta
According to the Council, each of these schools must improve their facilities and academic staffing before they can be reconsidered.
Education experts say the move reinforces the CLE’s insistence on strong professional standards and may push these schools to invest more heavily in infrastructure.
Admission quota increases
Several universities that improved their facilities and teaching staff received approval to admit more law students starting in the 2026 academic year. The updated quotas for 100-level admissions are:
| University | Previous Quota | New Quota | State/Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yobe State University, Damaturu | 50 | 100 | Yobe State |
| University of Maiduguri | 200 | 250 | Borno State |
| Veritas University, Bwari | 50 | 100 | Abuja |
| University of Port Harcourt | 50 | 100 | Rivers State |
These adjustments are expected to create room for more than 200 additional law students each year, helping reduce overcrowding and broadening the range of future legal specialists.
Baze University in Abuja also received good news. The CLE shortened the five-year ban on its law admissions, imposed in 2023, to three years after the school showed clear improvements. Its quota has also been doubled from 50 to 100 students. The Council noted upgraded facilities and stronger academic staffing as key reasons for the decision.
This set of decisions reflects a larger shift in the CLE’s approach in a year marked by several reforms, including changes to the timing of the November 2025 Call to the Bar.
With courts facing heavy caseloads and commercial disputes on the rise, the need for well-trained lawyers is more urgent than ever.
Still, the sector faces hurdles—from funding gaps to staffing shortages—that could affect how quickly these changes take effect.
In his closing comments, Chief Emeka Ngige restated the Council’s commitment to high standards and fairness.
He encouraged the newly approved institutions to emphasize hands-on training and strong ethical preparation as they build their programs.
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