Nigeria, Sept.,02, 2016 – A don in the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, Prof. Micheal Ntumy has asserted that codification of customary laws in Africa will promote unity in the region.
The lecturer who was delivering a lecture on “Codification of Customary Law in Africa: Progress and future Prospects” said codification will also enhance legal empowerment of vulnerable social groups.
He said there is over-whelming evidence that the core benefits of codification of Customary Law has transformed the legal systems of the countries where it has been done, resulting in unique legal systems which are impossible to replicate.
He noted that African countries that have not codified their Customary Laws are faced with challenges that are far daunting and called on such countries to embrace codification since the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The visiting Professor of Law, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, cautioned African countries who have not codified their Customary Laws not to give up.
“If the codification of Customary Law in Africa is not radically re-thought, Africa could be condemned to decades of broken dreams”, he said and that there is no doubt that the most plausible scenario from the current stand point is a further codification of the customary laws of these African countries that were still lagging behind.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor ‘Lanre Fagbohun added his voice to the discourse by calling for renaissance of African custom and cultural values, if it must attain development and compete with other continents. he Vice Chancellor who is also a Professor of Environmental Law was elated that the Faculty of Law was pushing the frontiers of academic scholarship by bringing such an international scholar of repute, Professor Ntumy, the guest lecturer.
“The lecture is touching. It dwelled on our collectivity as a society, a nation and a continent. Whether you are a Muslim, a Christian, Traditionalist etc, no matter what you do, your custom, largely, remains part of you. The truth is that you cannot run away from it”.
He posited that, in the index of development, Africa is behind, compared to such contemporary continents like Asia and South America. “In Asia, they teach and lecture in their Languages.
If your custom is part of what you are, it will give you the understanding and give you the edge to develop. The expertise of Prof. Ntumy will remind us of our heritage. I thank the Faculty, the Dean and the Students for this successful outing. You guys make me proud”, the Vice Chancellor said.
In his closing remarks, Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof. Mike Ikhariale said he was full of appreciation for the guest lecturer, Prof. Ntumy, the Vice Chancellor, as well as the university management.
