By Dianabasi Effiong
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the commencement of the Faculty of Law at Akwa Ibom State University.
The decision followed a resource verification visit conducted by the regulatory body’s panel of experts to assess the University’s readiness for the programme and the availability of human and material resources.
A letter from the NUC dated Nov. 10 reads in parts: “I am directed to inform the Vice-Chancellor that the Executive Secretary has considered and approved the establishment of the full-time mode of the LL.B Law Programme to be run in the Main Campus of the University with effect from the 2025/2026 academic session.
“The University is enjoined to provide human and material resources for the development and growth of the approved programmes in line with the provisions of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) for the Nigerian University System.”
The approval of the Faculty of Law signaled another milestone for the university’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Otoabasi Akpan, who, within three months in office, had established the faculties of Communication and Media Studies, with six new departments, and the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, with five departments.
Prof. Akpan also facilitated accreditation and resource verification for 30 post-graduate and some undergraduate programmes, as well as the establishment of more than 30 Institutes and Centres in various fields of endeavour to advance research and attract funding to the University.
Reacting to the development, the Director of Mutual Partnership and University Development, Dr. Promise Etim, praised the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University for his visionary leadership and seamless interpretation of the Arise Agenda of the Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom by choosing to expand the frontiers of the university, to give more Akwa Ibom Youths access to quality education.
He also lauded Governor Eno for supporting the university and providing the resources needed to drive development.
The approval for the Law Faculty takes the number of faculties in the University to eleven.
The Faculty of Law of AKSU will host three departments, namely, Private and Property Law, Jurisprudence and International Law, and Commercial and Industrial Law.
