BUK to Launch Paralegal Studies Programme

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

The programme will be hosted in the Department of Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Faculty of Law. It is designed to equip participants with practical legal knowledge to support legal processes and improve community-level access to justice.

Background and Collaboration

The initiative follows discussions between BUK and Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) during an advocacy visit on February 19, 2026. The PRAWA delegation included:

• Uju Agomoh, President, PRAWA & Chair, Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law
• Mohammed Dahiru Usman, Manager, Research and Documentation
• Barr. Jennifer Madu, Programme Manager

Other key participants included:

• Prof. Usman Shu’aibu, President, Network of Paralegal Training Institutions
• Prof. Mainako Madaki, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, BUK
• Dr. Aminu Musa, Head, Department of Sociology
• Prof. Nuhu Musa, Head, Department of Public and Commercial Law

Rationale for the Programme

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, highlighted that the limited admission quota for the LLB programme in Nigerian universities restricts opportunities for aspiring legal professionals. The new Paralegal Studies programme is intended to:

• Broaden access to legal education beyond traditional law degrees
• Strengthen community-based legal support services
• Provide a practical, structured legal education pathway for individuals unable to secure a traditional LLB

This programme marks a strategic step by BUK to address legal education gaps and foster inclusive legal empowerment across communities in Nigeria.