The Council of Legal Education has released an updated list of 117 universities approved to run law degree programmes, warning prospective students to avoid institutions that lack accreditation.
The council issued the warning as it continues to tighten standards across the country's law schools. Prospective law students who enrol in unaccredited institutions risk studying programmes that do not meet professional standards and may not be recognised by the body that regulates legal practice in Nigeria.
The move comes as the council seeks to maintain quality across legal education and protect students from wasting time and money on substandard programmes. Many universities across Nigeria run law programmes without the necessary accreditation, leaving graduates unable to practise law or pursue further legal training.
The council's list serves as a guide for students and their parents when choosing where to study law. Only graduates from accredited institutions can proceed to the mandatory National Law School of Nigeria and eventually be called to the Nigerian Bar.
The council has not disclosed how many unaccredited law programmes currently operate in the country, but the warning suggests the problem remains widespread. Universities running law programmes without accreditation face the risk of sanctions, including the closure of their law faculties and fines.
Students already enrolled in unaccredited institutions have been advised to transfer to accredited universities to protect their academic credentials. The council said it will continue to monitor law schools and update its accreditation list periodically to ensure compliance with standards.
