The Law Faculty of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), has initiated a move to overhaul its undergraduate curriculum under the leadership of the new Dean, Prof 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. A key change in the new curriculum is the drastic reduction of the courses offered to 100-level students.
Previously, freshers were required to take up to 21 courses across two semesters. However, with the recent changes, 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.
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 applause. 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 significant challenges was doing courses that are not important to us. Streamlining the curriculum to only important courses will help students to focus,” he said, suggesting the heavy workload from non-law courses may have been a barrier for students aiming for first-class honours.
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