Wike Seeks Approval For Law School Campus In Port Harcourt

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has requested
approval for the establishment of a campus of the Nigerian Law
School in Port Harcourt

The governor said the request is made in view of the fact that
the existing six campuses of the Nigerian Law School across the
country can only admit 6000 out of the over 10000 applicants that
seek legal education every year.

Governor Wike made the request during the flag-off of two hostel
blocks (450 bed spaces each) and a 1500 capacity auditorium, being
constructed by the Rivers State Government, at the Yenagoa Campus
of the Nigerian Law School on Friday.

According to Governor Wike, Rivers State Government is willing
to provide the basic infrastructure required in establishing
another law school within six months in order to accommodate more
students desirous for legal education.

“Let me throw a challenge to the Chairman of Council of Legal
Education, to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Justice, and
to the Director General of Nigeria Law School. How do we
accommodate this extra 4000 people that are left out since the only
capacity the law school can take is 6000?”

The governor expressed the readiness of States to support the
council of Legal Education and the federal government if they are
given opportunity to provide requisite infrastructure for the
establishment of more Law Schools to accommodate eligible aspirants
to the legal profession.

“Nobody should play politics with this. As a State Government, I
am ready to within the next six months give you everything that is
required to establish a Law School in Port Harcourt. What are the
facilities you need? Four hostels; two for men, two for women, an
auditorium, multipurpose hall, law clinic, two moot court rooms,
vehicles and residences for staff, then, Port Harcourt can host a
campus of law school.”

Governor Wike said no person should be surprised that Rivers
State Government is intervening in Yenagoa campus of Nigerian Law
School because the institution is meant for South-South Region.

“So, one of these days, I came here with the DG, and what I saw
was not befitting of a Law School for legal education. For a school
in the South-South, this is where our children come to, we should
be able to give support. What Rivers State Government is spending
is not less than N5billion Naira to build 900 bed space hostels for
boys and girls and then 1500 capacity auditorium.”

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami described such intervention of the Rivers State
Government in improving facility for legal education as a worthy
complimentary effort.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of
the Federation, Dayo Apata, the Attorney General of the Federation,
said the request for a campus in Port Harcourt can be favourably
considered when a formal proposal is received.

“I see clarity of thought. About how Nigeria can be better off.
I see a man with passion, very passionate about development.
Everything you spoke about, discussed is about Nigeria to be better
off. You are touching life. We see you doing projects. You have
written your name in the sands of time.”

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, represented by his
deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo described the intervention of
Governor Wike as remarkable.

According to him, since the Bayelsa State Government donated the
land and the few structures, the federal government has not made
any contribution since 2011 when it was established.

“This project here you’re initiating today, ought to be a
federal government project. And since this campus was donated by
Bayelsa State Government, we have not seen anything done by the
federal government.

“At this point, It is now the duty of those of us in the
South-South Region to nurture this campus, so that it will become a
reputation. And so, we are very happy for this hand of cooperation
and fellowship you have extended to this campus.”

On his part, Director-General of Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa
Hayatu Chiroma said facilities at the campuses of Nigeria Law
School have become insufficient to cater for the needs of legal
education.

This is so, he said, because of the increased number of students
enrolment to study law in Nigeria and in diaspora.

“Hence the urgent need for interventions and assistance in these
critical areas. It is therefore instructive, a welcome development
and the reason for this happy gathering in our Yenagoa

Chairman, Council Of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN,
said the central idea behind these constructions by the Rivers
State government is to address the infrastructural deficits of
lecture and accommodation spaces for the ever increasing number of
students seeking to acquire vocational legal training in
Nigeria.

“It is no secret that since the establishment of the Yenagoa and
Yola campuses of the Nigerian Law School in 2011 little or no
attention has been made by Government or concerned stakeholders to
build more hostels and lecture halls to effectively accommodate
students adequately.”

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has requested
approval for the establishment of a campus of the Nigerian Law
School in Port Harcourt

The governor said the request is made in view of the fact that
the existing six campuses of the Nigerian Law School across the
country can only admit 6000 out of the over 10000 applicants that
seek legal education every year.

Governor Wike made the request during the flag-off of two hostel
blocks (450 bed spaces each) and a 1500 capacity auditorium, being
constructed by the Rivers State Government, at the Yenagoa Campus
of the Nigerian Law School on Friday.

According to Governor Wike, Rivers State Government is willing
to provide the basic infrastructure required in establishing
another law school within six months in order to accommodate more
students desirous for legal education.

“Let me throw a challenge to the Chairman of Council of Legal
Education, to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Justice, and
to the Director General of Nigeria Law School. How do we
accommodate this extra 4000 people that are left out since the only
capacity the law school can take is 6000?”

The governor expressed the readiness of States to support the
council of Legal Education and the federal government if they are
given opportunity to provide requisite infrastructure for the
establishment of more Law Schools to accommodate eligible aspirants
to the legal profession.

“Nobody should play politics with this. As a State Government, I
am ready to within the next six months give you everything that is
required to establish a Law School in Port Harcourt. What are the
facilities you need? Four hostels; two for men, two for women, an
auditorium, multipurpose hall, law clinic, two moot court rooms,
vehicles and residences for staff, then, Port Harcourt can host a
campus of law school.”

Governor Wike said no person should be surprised that Rivers
State Government is intervening in Yenagoa campus of Nigerian Law
School because the institution is meant for South-South Region.

“So, one of these days, I came here with the DG, and what I saw
was not befitting of a Law School for legal education. For a school
in the South-South, this is where our children come to, we should
be able to give support. What Rivers State Government is spending
is not less than N5billion Naira to build 900 bed space hostels for
boys and girls and then 1500 capacity auditorium.”

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami described such intervention of the Rivers State
Government in improving facility for legal education as a worthy
complimentary effort.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of
the Federation, Dayo Apata, the Attorney General of the Federation,
said the request for a campus in Port Harcourt can be favourably
considered when a formal proposal is received.

“I see clarity of thought. About how Nigeria can be better off.
I see a man with passion, very passionate about development.
Everything you spoke about, discussed is about Nigeria to be better
off. You are touching life. We see you doing projects. You have
written your name in the sands of time.”

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, represented by his
deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo described the intervention of
Governor Wike as remarkable.

According to him, since the Bayelsa State Government donated the
land and the few structures, the federal government has not made
any contribution since 2011 when it was established.

“This project here you’re initiating today, ought to be a
federal government project. And since this campus was donated by
Bayelsa State Government, we have not seen anything done by the
federal government.

“At this point, It is now the duty of those of us in the
South-South Region to nurture this campus, so that it will become a
reputation. And so, we are very happy for this hand of cooperation
and fellowship you have extended to this campus.”

On his part, Director-General of Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa
Hayatu Chiroma said facilities at the campuses of Nigeria Law
School have become insufficient to cater for the needs of legal
education.

This is so, he said, because of the increased number of students
enrolment to study law in Nigeria and in diaspora.

“Hence the urgent need for interventions and assistance in these
critical areas. It is therefore instructive, a welcome development
and the reason for this happy gathering in our Yenagoa

Chairman, Council Of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN,
said the central idea behind these constructions by the Rivers
State government is to address the infrastructural deficits of
lecture and accommodation spaces for the ever increasing number of
students seeking to acquire vocational legal training in
Nigeria.

“It is no secret that since the establishment of the Yenagoa and
Yola campuses of the Nigerian Law School in 2011 little or no
attention has been made by Government or concerned stakeholders to
build more hostels and lecture halls to effectively accommodate
students adequately.”