Professor Friday Nwankwo Ndubuisi of the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Art delivered the third (3rd) Inaugural Lecture in the 2024/2025 Academic Session of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
In the insightful lecture titled: “THE PROVIDENCE AND THE PROVINCE: EXISTENTIALIST HUMANISM AT THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND JURISPRUDENCE”, he explored the intersections of Existentialism, the Philosophy of Science, and Jurisprudence through his innovative research on empirical transcendentalism and Existentialist humanism.
He eloquently articulated how these concepts can be applied to the human condition to advance equity, fairness, and justice in society.
The lecture provided a compelling examination of the age-long debate between natural law theorists and legal positivists. While legal positivists advocate for a strict interpretation of law as an autonomous construct free from moral evaluation, natural law theorists emphasise the intrinsic link between law and morality, arguing that laws devoid of moral foundations are inherently flawed.
Professor Ndubuisi cautioned against the dangers of conceiving law purely as the commands of a sovereign authority, reinforcing the importance of aligning law with moral principles to prevent its misuse as a tool of oppression.
On judicial activism, the astute Professor who is endowed with combined knowledge of Philosophy and Jurisprudence, advocated for justice-focused approach, prioritizing fairness over strict adherence to legal technicalities.
Citing examples from the United States and India, he highlighted how judicial activism has been instrumental in advancing public interest and protecting human rights. In contrast, he critiqued the Nigerian judiciary for over-relying on technicalities, leading to court congestion and delays in justice. He called for a paradigm shift towards a justice-driven legal system, where legal professionals are deeply committed to upholding human rights and the common good.
As he concluded his lecture, Professor Ndubuisi called for the study of ethics to be made mandatory for students in all departments in tertiary institutions. He further advocated for what he called PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) to be introduced at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Some other recommendations he made are:
- Strengthening the synergy between law and morality to distinguish between good and bad laws.
- Reforming laws to address societal issues and provide restitution for victims of crimes.
- Establishing specialised courts for high-profile corruption cases.
- Encouraging judicial officers to adopt a proactive approach to interpreting laws, especially in relation to Chapter Two of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, to promote social justice.
Professor Ndubuisi’s lecture is a clarion call for a justice system that not only safeguards the rights of the vulnerable but also fosters a society rooted in fairness and equity. His insights have significantly enriched our understanding of jurisprudence and its transformative potential for social development.
Professor Friday Nwankwo Ndubuisi was born on Saturday, January 10, 1959, to the family of Ndubuisi Anasonye Onwuzuruike of Umueze Amamba, Uzuakoli, in Abia State, Nigeria. He graduated among the top two students in the Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) with B.A. (Hons) in 1983; obtained his M.Phil. in 1987; and Ph.D. in 1991. In addition to his degrees in Philosophy, Professor Ndubuisi obtained an LL.B., an LL.M., and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He was sworn in as a Notary Public by the Chief Judge of Lagos State in 2013.
He joined the services of the University of Lagos as a Graduate Assistant after being retained, post NYSC, in the Department of Philosophy. He rose through the ranks to become Lecturer II in 1991; Lecturer I in 1993; Associate Professor in 2006; and Professor of Philosophy in 2008.
Professor Ndubuisi has contributed significantly to academia and research. Beyond academia, he has made a remarkable impact through his contributions to public discourse by authoring over 400 articles for newspapers such as The Guardian, The Punch, and National Concord etc., and served as a columnist for Champion Newspapers and The Mirror.
Author: Nike Ogunshakin
Photographer: Ayomide Oloyede
Article Editor: Bayo Salau
