Prof. S. Gozie Ogbodo, SJD
Dean, Faculty of Law
The initiative to establish the Faculty of Law of Godfrey Okoye University was one of the goals of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Christian Anieke for the 2016/2017 academic year. The initiative enjoyed the tremendous support and encouragement of the Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor of the University, Professor Dr. Christian Nwachukwu Okeke, who is also a renowned international lawyer and a distinguished professor of international law. The initiative also received the support of the members of the Governing Council and the Senate of the University.
Under the pioneering leadership of Prof. Dr. S. Gozie Ogbodo, the young faculty has successfully met the accreditation requirements of both the National Universities Commission and the Council of Legal Education. In order to lay a solid foundation for the young faculty, the foundation members of the academic staff were carefully assembled from leading scholars within and outside Nigeria. Some of the notable members of the faculty include renowned Professors Edwin Nwogugu and Boniface Okere, both former Deans of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria. The least qualified member of the academic staff is a Ph.D. candidate.
In addition to the academic staff, the teaching and learning facilities in the faculty meet international standard. The Law Library boasts of a rich collection of books in different spheres of legal education, while the e-library consists of more than 200 computers for online research and teaching.
The Faculty of Law seeks to distinguish itself in the field of legal education in Nigeria in the following ways:
In its few years of establishment, the faculty has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the School of Law, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, U.S.A., for the mutual exchange of staff and students. Pursuant to that MOU, the overall best student in the faculty was sponsored by the University to visit Golden Gate University in 2019. Also, the maiden journal of the Faculty was published in 2019 and has continued in publication on a yearly basis. Currently, the new Auditorium of the Faculty of Law is under construction and will be commissioned soon.
The Faculty Moot Court was named in honour of erudite Honourable Justice C.C. Nweze of the Supreme Court. The naming ceremony attracted many members of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, as well as the members of the Enugu State Judiciary, led by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Honourable Justice Priscilla Emehelu.
The students’ population is increasing yearly. By the commencement of the 2020/2021 academic session, the pioneer students will be in the 400 level. By the grace of God, our Faculty of Law is poised to carve a niche’ for itself in the comity of Faculties of Law in Nigeria.
Prof. S. Gozie Ogbodo, SJD
Dean, Faculty of Law
One of the most important decisions I have ever made was deciding to study at Godfrey okoye University and I am happy I made that decision.
