TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: LESSONS FROM THE FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Abstract

The rapid transformation of higher education in the twenty-first century has fundamentally altered the ways in which knowledge is produced, transmitted and acquired. In legal education, these changes are particularly significant because the traditional emphasis on lectures, doctrinal knowledge and case-based learning must increasingly respond to technological innovation, changing professional expectations, interdisciplinary scholarship and the evolving learning preferences of contemporary students. This paper examines teaching and learning in the twenty-first century through the experience of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, with a view to identifying lessons that may inform the future development of legal education in Nigeria. It explores the extent to which contemporary teaching practices within the Faculty reflect student-centred learning, digital technologies, experiential and problem-based learning, continuous assessment, collaborative learning and the development of critical thinking, legal research and practical skills. The paper also considers the challenges associated with integrating emerging technologies into legal education, including limitations in infrastructure, digital access, pedagogical adaptation and the need for continuous capacity development among educators. Drawing on the experience of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, the paper argues that effective twenty-first-century legal education requires a shift from a predominantly transmission-based model towards a more interactive, technology-enabled and skills-oriented approach while preserving the foundational values of legal scholarship and professional ethics. The experience of the Faculty provides useful insights into how established law faculties can adapt to changing educational realities while maintaining academic rigour. The paper concludes by proposing practical lessons for strengthening teaching and learning in Nigerian legal education and positioning law faculties to prepare graduates for an increasingly digital, interdisciplinary and rapidly changing legal profession.