The Faculty of Law at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), has initiated a sweeping overhaul of its undergraduate curriculum under the new leadership of the Dean, Professor Kabiru Garba Muhammad. The reforms, which take effect this academic session, feature a significant reduction in the number of courses for first-year students and the introduction of contemporary subjects, drawing praise from students and alumni alike.
A key change in the new curriculum is the drastic reduction of the course load for 100-level students. Previously required to take up to 21 courses across two semesters, new entrants will now focus on just nine foundational courses for the entire academic year. The revised structure eliminates several “borrowed” courses from departments such as political science, Arabic, and Islamic studies, which many felt diluted the focus on core legal studies.
In a significant update, the faculty has also introduced “ICT in Law,” a course designed to equip students with the technological skills necessary for the modern legal profession.
The changes have been met with enthusiasm. Abdulrasheed Ahmad, an alumnus of the faculty, expressed his approval, recalling the challenges of the old system. “This is a great initiative and a great improvement,” Ahmad said. “One of the major challenges was doing courses that are not important to us. Streamlining the curriculum to only important courses will help students to focus.” He suggested the heavy workload from non-law courses may have been a barrier for students aiming for first-class honours.
Ahmad lauded the introduction of ICT in Law as a critical step forward. “We are in the 21st century, and ICT is a very valuable course for the present students. Everything you want to do, from research to drafting or receiving contracts from another country, involves technology. So it is important, not only for now but for the future.”
Current students have also welcomed the reform. “The workload with 21 courses was hectic and tough,” commented Muhammadjawad Oloruntoyin, a 400-level law student. “The new curriculum is good because courses we felt were unnecessary have been removed, and our legal profession is now given better attention.”
However, Oloruntoyin also offered a word of caution to incoming students, describing the leaner curriculum as a “two-sided coin.” While it allows for deeper focus, he warned that “it could also prove bad because those courses would probably carry higher points—failing one or having a bad grade can be detrimental to their GP.”
The Faculty of Law, established in the 1977/78 academic session, is one of the university’s foundational faculties and currently boasts a staff list that includes seven professors.
Efforts by our correspondent to reach Dean Kabiru Garba Muhammad for an official comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
