Maiduguri Law School: The Senate Approval and Senator Kashim Shettima’s Voice

By: James Bwala

Many have applauded former Borno state governor and senator representing Borno Central at the red chamber in Nigeria’s Law making body – The National Assembly for a giant stride in putting a strong voice to ensure Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in northeast Nigeria gets a Law School in the recent approval by the senate.

NEWSng reports that, while many have agreed that Senator Kashim Shettima did very well not only for the generation today but also for unborn citizens in time to come, others have a different opinion probably based on their political differences.

Speaking on the approvals by senate, Malam Hassan Adam told NEWSng that, “This however, is not without hitches from some anti Progressive minds. But those classical clowns, we wave with our fingers as they are not worthy of our time and efforts in making ‘Borno state great again’, if I should borrow the words of Kashim Shettima when he embarked on rebuilding Borno state through setting up educational base in a state ravaged by the insurgency”.

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Indeed, at a time when citizens of Borno state are seeking safe haven elsewhere due largely to the activities of Boko Haram, Senator Kashim Shettima, then a governor, was seeking for a new future through educating the citizens. It was at that time that he came up with the idea of model schools and also nurses the idea of establishing a state University all in an effort to free Borno state from the fangs of illiteracy. It was also at that time that he carefully selects a gem among many egg heads in Borno. 

According to Timothy Yakubu, a keen observer in the unfolding events in Borno, he (Kashim Shettima) was all along considering the beauty of continuity because he knew that he would have to start all these projects but time would not permit him to see it through in his time as governor. “Therefore, to achieve that even after he might have left office, there are needs for a new birth in his own character. This deliberate attitude of Kashim  Shettima puts him into looking at the capable hands on ground and out of 26 eligible, an Engineer was born. He knew he could heave a sigh of relief with this choice and he did.

“Today, Borno state is celebrating the man – Senator Kashim Shettima for another achievement in the pursuit for a greater Borno state. As representative of Borno Central in the senate, Kashim Shettima was relentless in lobbying to acquire the needed support from colleagues and well-wishers. According to Kashim Shettima, he is not just a representative of the section of Borno people but of the larger Nigerian society.

“Through timely and convincing approach, Kashim Shettima was able to succeed in making Borno state part of the state to cite the six approved states to house the Law School Campuses. Indeed, it was no longer news that the senate Approves Creation of Maiduguri Law School Campus, Borno State. Thanks to Senator Kashim Shettima for being a voice to the people of Borno State, the Northeast and Nigeria as a whole.” Mr. Timothy said

NEWSng reports that, The Bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc) Act by establishing the campuses for the Nigerian Law School, and for other related matters” was sponsored by Kogi West Senator Smart Adeyemi. The passage of the Bill followed the adoption of the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that considered the Bill.

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Adamu Saleh, a commentator said that, ”The presentation Senator Kashim Shettima made at the floor of the senate on establishing the law school campus  in Maiduguri was full of justifiably facts backed by intelligence and high sense of reasoning”

According to him,  “Men of goodwill would not have any basis to raise objections. “Our sincere appreciation to the intelligent, humble and patriotic Kashim Shettima and all contributors to this noble breakthrough.”

Also commenting on this success, Professor Shehu Liberty of the  University of Maiduguri in his post said, “Thank You Most Sincerely Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima For Initiating the Establishment of Nigerian Law School in Maiduguri, Borno State, Which was Long Overdue. This is Indeed a Highly Commendable and Thoughtful Effort! You have proved to be a Worthy Representative of the Good People of Borno Central and Indeed Borno State. The Good People of Borno are Proud of you, your Intellectual Prowess and Great Political Sagacity! Keep the Good Work, Your Excellency sir!”

“I love your voice in the Nigerian Senate. This has added value to Borno state. You have started well and indeed we are all proud of you. You have shown influence, capacity and capability to bring the dream of bringing Borno state out of the muddy waters. You are our man any moment because we know you are always with the people.” Dr. Sani Umar wrote.

Following the senate decision on Tuesday to pass the Bill that seeks to increase the number Law School campuses from seven to 14, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele’s report reveals that the existing Law School campuses are located in Lagos (Southwest); Abuja (North Central); Yola, Adamawa State (Northeast); Kano (Northwest); Enugu (Southeast) and Yenegoa, Bayelsa State (South-South).

The additional campuses approved by the Senate are Kabba Law School Campus, Kogi State (Northcentral); Maiduguri Law School Campus, Borno State (Northeast); and Argungu Law School Campus, Kebbi State (Northwest). Others are Jos Law School Campus, Plateau State (North Central); Okija Law School Campus, Anambra State (Southeast); Orogun Law School Campus, Delta State (Southsouth) and Ifaki Law School Campus, Ekiti State (Southwest).

The Senate also approved the Yenegoa Law School Campus, Bayelsa State; Port Harcourt Law School Campus, Rivers State; and Orogun Law School Campus, Delta State for the South-South zone. In the South West, the chamber approved the Lagos Law School Campus, Lagos State; and Ilawe Law School Campus, Ekiti State. The Bwari Law School Campus, Abuja, remains exclusively for the Federal Capital Territory.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the creation of the six law schools was a legislative intervention to address “the exponential increase in the number of law graduates from our universities an foreign ones, coupled with the backlog that existed over the years.”

According to the lawmaker, “existing campuses are overstretched and the infrastructures are not enough to accommodate thousands of law students graduating from the universities.”

He observed that the United States of America with a population of over 350 million people has about 237 law schools. The lawmaker noted that some countries such as Canada and Australia, with far fewer population than Nigeria, have 24 and 38 law schools for a population of about 38 million and 26 million people, respectively.

Bamidele explained that the provision for additional campuses in the six geopolitical zones of the federation was appropriate as it does not tamper with the seven existing campuses established by administrative responsibilities of the Council of Legal Education.

Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital said they are particularly happy with this development and are convinced that such a project could not have come to Borno state without a strong voice.

Maiduguri Law School: The Senate Approval and Senator Kashim Shettima’s Voice