Bayero University Kano to Commence Paralegal Studies Programme

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) is set to commence a Paralegal Studies programme aimed at expanding access to justice and creating alternative professional pathways within Nigeria’s legal system.

The programme, which will be domiciled in the Department of Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences and run in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, is designed to equip participants with practical legal knowledge to support legal processes and promote access to justice, particularly at the community level.

The initiative followed discussions between the university and the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) during an advocacy visit to the institution on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The PRAWA delegation was led by its President, Dr Uju Agomoh, who also chairs the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law. She was accompanied by the organisation’s Manager of Research and Documentation, Muhammed Dahiru Usman, and Programme Manager, Barrister Jennifer Madu.

Other members of the delegation included Professor Usman Shuaibu, President of the Network of Paralegal Training Institutions; Professor Maikano Madaki, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, BUK; Dr Aminu Musa, Head of the Department of Sociology; and Professor Nuhu Musa, Head of the Department of Public and Commercial Law.

Receiving the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, described the proposed programme as timely, noting that the limited admission quota for the Bachelor of Laws programme in Nigerian universities has restricted opportunities for many aspiring legal professionals.

He explained that a structured paralegal programme would help widen access to legal education while strengthening grassroots legal services and reducing delays in the justice system.

“Just as we have paramedics in the health sector, there is a need for trained paralegals within the justice system,” he said, noting that contributions from scholars in sociology, economics, linguistics and law.

Professor Musa reaffirmed the university’s readiness to collaborate with PRAWA and the university’s Council of Legal Education to facilitate the takeoff of the programme once a Memorandum of Understanding is finalised and approved.

He added that the proposed Bachelor of Paralegal Studies and Postgraduate Diploma in Paralegal Studies are multidisciplinary in design and consistent with international best practices.

Earlier, The President of the Network of Paralegal Training Institutions, Professor Usman Shuaibu explained that the initiative was the outcome of nearly five years of collaboration with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and curriculum development aimed at bridging the justice gap, particularly in underserved rural communities where access to legal representation remains limited.

Briefing the Vice Chancellor on the concept of Para Legal studies, the leader of the service team, Dr Uju Agomoh stressed that widening service gaps in the justice sector require innovative professional solutions, describing paralegals as essential support personnel in community justice frameworks, law firms and institutional justice.

She disclosed that the programme was developed in collaboration with PRAWA would provide the necessary technical and institutional support to ensure its successful implementation.

Recommended Articles: