NDDC Pledges Continued Support for Legal Education in Niger Delta Universities

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has restated its commitment to support legal education in universities across the Niger Delta region.

The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, gave the assurance during the 2026 Moot and Mock Trial Competition for law faculties held at the Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Rivers State.

Ebie said the Commission would continue to carry out its statutory role of developing and supporting education, with emphasis on practical training in legal education to build capacity.

He noted that the Commission has been deliberate about interventions in education and human capacity development in the region. According to him, this is shown through the repositioning of foreign and local postgraduate scholarship programmes, and the provision of infrastructure such as roads, hostels, desks and other learning facilities in many higher institutions in the Niger Delta.

He stressed the importance of moot court and mock trial competitions in the law curriculum. He said the competitions help students develop advocacy and courtroom presentation skills and provide practical experience outside the classroom.

It is our expectation that this competition lays the foundation for the advocacy skills these young legal minds will need to draw attention to the challenges of our region, even at this early stage of their careers, he said.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the Commission is strengthening partnerships with the Judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association and the wider legal community.

Ogbuku stated that law, when applied effectively, can drive rapid and sustainable development in the region. He urged students to think about how their knowledge can be used for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta.

He added that the world is going through rapid energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and a period of fast growth in Artificial Intelligence. He said legal education in the region must adapt to these changes to equip future leaders with skills to compete globally.

The Special Guest of Honour, retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili, commended NDDC for sponsoring the competition. She described it as an essential part of legal training and advised students to take full advantage of it, noting that not everything is learned in the classroom.

The 30th President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata, said NDDC understands the power of legal training. He noted that advocacy is the bedrock of the legal profession and that the ability to think on your feet is something AI cannot replicate.

The Deputy Director-General and Head of the Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Chinonso Mmuozoba, said human capacity building is central to the development of any region and to critical thinking in all professions. He commended NDDC for its support to legal education and to education generally, and urged students to see the trial as more than a competition.

In his welcome address, the NDDC Director of Legal Services, Mr Victor Arenyeka, said moot court and mock trial competitions are key parts of legal training worldwide. He explained that through the competition, law students from universities across the region discuss legal issues peculiar to the region, including environmental law, oil and gas law, petroleum industry laws and sustainable development, with the aim of offering legal solutions.