Leading diplomats and international law experts have issued a resounding call for the urgent prioritisation of homegrown capacity development and training in international law.
This critical investment, they argue, is essential to maximise Nigeria's potential in attracting mutually beneficial international trade and investments, ensuring the nation stands strong on the global stage.
The crucial recommendation emerged from the high-level opening ceremony of the 2025 Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Law and Diplomacy.
This intensive one-week course, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in partnership with the International Law Association (ILA) (Nigerian Branch), is designed to equip participants with specialised knowledge and skill sets vital for the practice of international law and diplomacy in an increasingly interconnected world.
The esteemed gathering featured compelling remarks from a distinguished roster of senior diplomats and experts.
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| From left: Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Justice Sector, representing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN; Dr. Tobiloba Moody, Director, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Nigeria Office; Eghobamien-Mshelia Esther, Vice Chair and Nigeria’s representative, UN Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan; President of the International Law Association Nigeria, Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN; and Ambassador Safiu Olukayode Olaniyan, Former Ambassador of Nigeria to Sudan. |
Among those present were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN (represented by Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Justice Sector); Ambassador Safiu Olukayode Olaniyan, Former Ambassador of Nigeria to Sudan; Professor Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, President of the International Law Association Nigeria; Professor Olufemi Elias, Judge Ad hoc of the International Court of Justice; Dr Tobilola Moody, Director, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Nigeria Office; Eghobamien-Mshelia Esther, Vice Chair and Nigeria’s representative, UN Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and Clement Osuya, Secretary General of the International Law Association, Nigeria.
Welcoming and congratulating the selected participants for this high-level course, Professor Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan, Director General of NIALS, underscored the evolving landscape of legal practice.
"Due to globalisation, legal practices have taken on a new dimension, as new emerging areas of law have evolved.
"As lawyers, practitioners, and law students, there is a need to rise to the challenge and equip oneself for 21st-century legal service delivery.
“We are confident that your participation in this course will equip you with the skill sets needed to advocate for and practice international law and diplomacy for the benefit of humanity," he noted.
Ambassador Safiu Olukayode Olaniyan, the distinguished keynote speaker, emphasised the pivotal role of international law.
"International law serves as a crucial tool for managing the complexities of global relations, promoting cooperation, and addressing transnational challenges in a way that balances state sovereignty with collective interests," he stated.
Drawing extensively from his practical experience as a diplomat representing Nigeria in Sudan, Ambassador Olaniyan's compelling lecture illuminated the essence of international law, the integral role of diplomacy in national development, the fundamentals of international diplomacy, and priority areas for effective diplomacy and national advancement.
He lauded NIALS and the ILA "for the initiative and thoughtfulness to introduce an Advanced Certificate Course in International Law and Diplomacy, aimed at providing an in-depth examination of international law and its pivotal role in diplomacy and national development."
Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN), President of the ILA, Nigeria, and an Independent Expert on the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights in Switzerland, highlighted the shifting dynamics of global trade.
“International trade negotiations must be based on mutual respect and productive dialogue.
"But in our world today, we are gradually sliding back to the era of condescension diplomacy, characterised by a patronising or superior attitude towards other nations or actors, and the unilateral announcement of trade tariffs and veiled threats by some countries against other nations, hindering productive dialogue and cooperation that have been the hallmarks of the multilateral trading system and international diplomacy for many years," he asserted.
Professor Olawuyi stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to reclaim its voice in global discourse.
"Reclaiming the African voice in international law and diplomacy requires homegrown capacity development programs such as this, that expose the next generation to the art and craft of international law and diplomacy," he concluded.
The intensive one-week course is meticulously designed to cover contemporary themes in both public and private international law.
Taught by leading experts, the modules will encompass a wide array of critical subjects, including artificial intelligence and new technologies, international human rights and humanitarian law, international criminal law, international energy and petroleum transactions, climate change and sustainable development, conflict resolution, international commercial arbitration, AFCTA and international economic integration, as well as ethics and skill sets for international diplomacy, among others.
Established in 1979, NIALS stands as Nigeria's apex legal research and training institute. The International Law Association (ILA), founded in 1873, holds the objective and mandate to promote "the study, clarification, and development of international law, both public and private, and the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law."
The Nigerian Branch of the ILA regularly hosts innovative lectures, seminars, conferences, and various other capacity development programs to advance the study and understanding of international law within the nation.
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