Professor of Law and United Nations Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Professor Obiora Okafor has called on governments, universities and justice sector stakeholders to urgently grow the talent pool of international lawyers who possess high technical and specialist skills to guide Nigeria’s foreign policy responses to complex problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Okafor, a highly regarded professor of international human rights law and the York Research Chair in International and Transnational Legal Studies, Osgoode Hall Law School, Canada made these remarks during an online workshop on Thursday, organized by the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch). Themed “International Law and Foreign Relations During and Post-COVID 19″, the workshop featured eminent speakers and experts, including the President of the Nigerian Branch of the ILA, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN; Professor Damilola Olawuyi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University; Ms. Omotese Eva, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria; Dr. Olufemi Elias, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and visiting professor of law at Queen Mary University London; and Yusuf Danmadami, Senior Legal Officer, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Abuja.
In his keynote remarks, Professor Okafor stated that “international law and foreign relations have tended to be shaped by crisis and international lawyers have always had, and will continue to have, an important role in re-shaping these disciplines in moments of crisis, such as the current one, induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this background, international law and lawyers will need to pay attention to certain challenges that will likely become exacerbated and heightened by and as a result of the pandemic. These include: the need for even more international solidarity to tackle global challenges which affect us all; the need for equitable access across the globe to any COVID-19 vaccine that is invented; the need to make trade, especially in agricultural produce and textiles much fairer for poorer countries; and the need to avoid the grave challenge posed to multilateralism by reactionary populism amongst others.” While urging law faculties and universities to develop specialized courses in new and emerging areas of international law, the don identified the need for greater refinement and understanding of international legal regimes that regulate debt relief; illicit financial flows; human rights; human migration and movement and poverty amelioration amongst others.
In the ensuing panel discussions, Omotese Eva noted that given the rapidly evolving nature of international law, more practical and innovative skills development courses are need at the university level to acquaint students with the skillset required for an international affairs career in a rapidly changing world. Similarly, Dr. Olufemi Elias, who is Nigeria’s nominee for the Judge of the International Court of Justice position, highlighted how international lawyers are developing innovative responses to the challenges posed by the pandemic, and then urged students and aspiring international lawyers to make the most of the wealth of resources, online databases and tools to make in routes to new and emerging areas of international law. On his part, Yusuf Danmadami of ECOWAS noted that since charity begins from home, several of the homegrown community laws, rules and guidelines developed by ECOWAS should be introduced to students at an early stage so that Africa and Africans can play much more significant roles in the development of international law.
In closing the session, the President of the Nigerian Branch of the ILA, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN highlighted the capacity development opportunities that the ILA provides for the study, clarification and development of international law in Nigeria. According to him, “the Nigerian Branch of the ILA regularly hosts innovative lectures, seminars, conferences, and other capacity development programs that can help all stakeholders to stay up-to-date in this important field of law,” he concluded.
Thenigerialawyer
