By Waziri Isa Adam & Obiora Abuchi
Professor Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan is a renowned Nigerian academic lawyer specializing in comparative jurisprudence, humanitarian law, human rights, environmental law, energy law, security law and gender development law.
With impressive academic background, he obtained his LLB, LL.M, and Ph.D degrees in law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1986, 1990 and 1996, respectively. Additionally, he holds two post-doctoral certificates in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and leadership and professional Development from the University of Minnesota, California State University and Harvard Law School, U.S.A.
Professor Ladan served as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal studies (NIALS) from 2019 to September 30, 2024.
Education Monitor Newspaper, a pioneering publication dedicated to covering Nigeria’s education sector has been tracking and reporting on Professor Ladan’s impactful activities. In this report, we highlight some of his notable activities that were reported in Education Monitor Newspaper during his one-year leave, from September 2024 to September 2025.
It will be impossible to completely cover the wide range of contributions of this scholar, a versatile man of letters and great intellectual in the numerous and multi-disciplinary endeavors where he has had the opportunity around the world to display the mastery of his professional areas of jurisdiction in one treatise such as we present here so our intention here is to initiate a process that will eventually lead to a comprehensive assessment and record of the contributions of Professor M.T Ladan to the body of knowledge available to humanity in those arrears that benefitted from his wide knowledge and intellectual erudition.
Among other things, Education Monitor had reported that Prof. Ladan presented his 5-year readership performance report to the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bola.
The report covers his tenor as Director-General of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal studies (NIALS) between 2019 and 2024 and highlights the fact that Prof. Ladan who represents a good ambassador of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the Public sector is the most respectful DG in the history of NIALS.
As a renowned expert in African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) law, Prof. Ladan was recognized for his exceptional expellee and selected to serve on the African experts working Group on Annexes to AfCTFA protocol on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). In this capacity, he identified critical omissions in Nigeria’s National Policy on Intellectual property rights and contributes to shape it up.
In accordance with his passion to contribute to the dialogue to improve on gender sensitivity, Prof. Ladan outlined a ten point comprehensive agenda for Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim where he emphasized inclusive policies and partnership in gender issues.
A versatile man, Prof. Ladan also proposed and actually tabled a 7-point agenda for the newly appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole. The agenda covers a wide array of areas including the promotion of professionalism, strengthening of technical, human, material and financial capacities, ensuring strategic plan of action on resource mobilization, etc.
Addressing the harmonization of issues that border on the legal side of the operations of the Education Ministry, Prof. Ladan worked with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad to prioritize a five-point agenda which the Professor presented to the Minister for the purpose of leaving an indelible mark in the Ministry.
Among the researches he has done to enhance the operational efficiency of government policies is that on the AfCFTA protocol on Woman and Youth in Trade. In the research, Prof. Ladan highlighted challenges faced by women and youths. In the research, he made recommendations for the harmonization of policies and protocols to pave the way for meaningful development. This, generally, will address the systemic, structural and financial challenges that bedeviled the progression of the policies already structured to advance the affairs of women and youths.
Still advancing the purposes for which the AfCFTA was created across Nigerian Federal Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals, Prof. Ladan ensured that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi both keyed-in to the AfCFTA agreement. As a matter of fact, Prof. Muhammad Tawfiq Ladan, as a bridge-builder in the smooth running of the activities of government business has been able to use the opportunity of his public service to streamline the activities of government so that they conform to both African and international standards.
This much was attested to by one of his numerous works, a paper which he presented to a two-day International Air Transport in Africa Conference titled “Air Transport in Africa – Challenges, Bridging Operational and Regulatory Gaps”. The Conference was organized by the World United Consumer Organization.
In his presentation, Prof. Ladan observed that, “Africa’s Air Transport sector faces significant challenges, including liberalization, management weaknesses, state protectionism, poor air costs, and regulatory hurdles”. He made effort to recommend the means to achieve operational efficiency in the African Air Transport Sub Section in his presentation.
Speaking on “The future of Investor-State dispute settlement in Africa” at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos in a conference that had its theme anchored on “Transformation and Intervention: The Evolving Trends in Arbitration and ADR Practice in AFRICA” this quintessential expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Prof Ladan believed that “….regional Economic Integration in Africa is undoubtedly a catalyst for growth in ADR generally and arbitration in particular”.
As has been observed earlier in this pseudo treatise, no single document will be able to articulate the innumerable contributions of Prof. Ladan to enhance the operational efficiency of government business in regards to their statutory obligations and delivery of their tasks to achieve the purposes for which they were set up and expectations by government, but we will make some efforts here to underscore some of these achievements as they were recorded by Education Monitor Newspaper, a media house that has been sensitive to the contributions of Professor Ladan to national growth and decided to trail and record some of his contributions to Nigeria, Africa, and the world.
Addressing the issue of the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria, Prof. Ladan, the renowned legal and policy analyst called for the need for the demonstration of political will to implement the provisions of the 2015 administration of Criminal Justice Act and Laws, at the Federal and State levels. Among other inhibiting factors to the administration of criminal justice system, he cited persistent delays, corruptions and lack of adequate resources as major impediments to effective administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria.
His submission on this was made in a paper titled “Criminal Justice Administration in Nigeria; Issues, Lessons learnt and Future Prospects”. This paper was presented in Abuja at an International Conference on Justice, Peace, Security and Development which was organized by PRAWA in collaboration with the California State University, Sacramento, USA.
One of the most important observations which Prof. Ladan made in his presentation is that restorative justice must focus on reformation and reintegration of offenders into the wider society as he believes that restorative justice must include reducing congestion in prisons, rehabilitating prisoners, and preventing convicts from mixing with hardened criminals. Additionally, Prof. Ladan believes as he stated in his presentation, that restorative justice must attend to victim’s emotional and other needs, prevent him from re-offending and enable him to take responsibility for his actions as convenient conditions are created for him by the system to have a second chance through rehabilitation for a good working relationship with the society to which he has been reintegrated.
As an ardent believer in regional co-operation, Prof. Ladan encourages member states to prioritize fulfilling their financial obligations to ECOWAS as Nigeria set a record of completely paying off all her outstanding financial commitments to the regional body.
According to the Professor, this will enhance the operations of the regional body especially in the light of the fact that some countries like Niger Republic, Mali and Bokina Faso have unilaterally pulled out from the body with their corresponding financial obligations not coming in.
It must be noted that Education Monitor Newspaper is not the only organization that has observed the contributions of Prof, Ladan to national growth. Among other organizations and persons who have hailed the Prof. for his contributions to national growth is the staff of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).
In their tribute to their immediate past Director-General, some members of the staff of that organization did not mince words to shower encomiums on the professor. In the words of one of the members of staff of the NIALS, Elvis Obaseki, as he paid his tribute to the erudite professor, “Transformational leaders invest in the next generation. They are not scared nor envious of the achievements of their protégés. Instead, they create the atmosphere for talents to thrive. They see the success of their protégés as their own success. And they CELEBRATE IT AS YOU ALWAYS DO”.
That observation by Elvis Obaseki is a strong statement in the personnel administration quality of Professor Ladan which, by the way, is another area people who are conversant with the administrative principles of Professor Ladan know that he is very good at.
Obviously in recognition of the leadership qualities highlighted by Elvis Obaseki, a member of staff of the NIALS which endear Prof. Ladan to whosoever that comes in contact with him, Prof. Ladan was appointed as the Legal/Regulatory and Licensing Expert/Consultant by a consortium of European consulting companies as part of an 8-member team of experts drawn from Hungary, USA, Germany, Kenya and Nigeria.
This team of experts were to conduct two studies on the European Union-funded project in support of Nigeria’s initiative under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to deploy telecoms infrastructure of 90,000km fiber optics cable network for enhanced internet broadband penetration and improved digital literacy as well as a virile digital economy in Nigeria by 2027.
Much as Prof Ladan is one of the foremost government officials at the forefront of enhancing national policy formulation and infrastructural development, he is also active in other international and trans-border engagements acting on behalf of Nigeria.
In an international conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Prof Ladan, delivering the keynote address on “Accelerating Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region Through the Effective Implementation of the Law on Trans Boundary Aquifers” among other things, observed that climate change threatens to increase the gap between water supply and water demand in the region by exacerbating drought conditions.
In another international conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosting the 11th edition of African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) Prof. Ladan identified the unique contributions of AfCFTA law to these multilateral trading system and international economic law. In that conference, he emphasized the need for a collective effort to drive the progressive realization of the single African market.
Human and Civil Rights Laws have not escaped the attention and reformative passion of Prof. Ladan, who for lack of words, we must describe as the man with the golden touch. In this respect, Prof Ladan, speaking in a meeting with the theme “The Rome Statute 1949 Geneva Convention and their Additional Protocols – Nigeria’s Obligation Scorecard”, highlighted the key areas of progress made by Nigeria in complying with its international obligations in civilian protection.
Facilitated by the office of the Solicitor-General of the Federation, the meeting was commenced by the auspices of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
In another development, Prof. Ladan, in Accra, during the AfCFTA Taskforce Meeting in Accra, Ghana, highlighted the derivable benefits of Annexes to the African Continental Free Trade Area Protocol on Intellectual property Rights for the 55-member states of the African Union.
According to him, the detailed benefits include, but are not limited to the following:
Harmonized and consistent IP protection.
Fostering Intra-African trade
Promoting innovation and creativity.
Strengthening negotiating positions
Supporting economic development
Back home again in Nigeria, specifically in Osun State University as he delivered the keynote address at the 2025 edition of the Annual International Sustainable Development Dialogue, Prof. Ladan emphasized the need to formulate strategies that focus on enhancing economic governance, investing in infrastructure and human capital and leveraging technology and digital revolution to achieve set goals. In that keynote address, Prof Ladan advocated for what he called “SDG ecosystem approach” which priorities activities that impact multiple SDG’s simultaneously.
As Prof Ladan devotes much of his intellectual path-finding capability to advance the operations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights (IPP), he spoke as the lead technical expert supporting the African Union member states negotiating teams at a meeting of experts in Djoubuti, Horn of Africa.
In that meeting which was organized by AfCFTA secretarial headquartered in Accra, Ghana, to boost Intra African Trade, foster innovation and ensure fair trade practices, Prof. Ladan urged the member states of African Union to focus more on the guiding principles and the ultimate goals of the AfCFTA as they go about executing their mandates.
Quite recently, precisely on 13th August, 2025 Prof. Ladan delivered the lead paper at Prof. Ngozi Egbuna ICRITR Maiden Hybrid International Conference, which held with the theme “30 years of WTO: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects”. Professor Ladan was at the conference which kicked off by 11:00am at the Academic Staff Union of Universities Auditorium in Awka, Anambra State, where other dignitaries amongst whom is the Nigerian-born Professor (Mrs.) Ngozie Okonjo-Iweala, the current director of World Trade Organization (WTO) were present.
In another passionate appeal recently in August, Prof. Ladan demonstrated his love for Nigerian leaders of tomorrow, children, as he advocated for the promotion and protection of children against all forms of Human Rights abuse, neglect, violence and discrimination.
His position as a Human Rights lawyer and an expert in comparative jurisprudence and development and the application of the law with a view to achieving a harmonious humane society including seeing to the general wellbeing of children in the society was made clear at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Conference in the International Conference Centre, Enugu, Enugu state.
In his presentation, he made it clear that the primary purpose of government at all levels to protect the rights of children.
According to him, government must invest in a child-friendly justice system through such key strategies as strengthening children-friendly infrastructure, implementing comprehensive training for justice professionals, mobilizing resources for implementation, and promoting community and inter-sectorial approaches for prevention and support.
He concluded his opinion about strengthening care for children by highlighting the need for well-equipped spaces for children, training for professionals in the cares of children and sufficient funding by government to translate policies into practice. He observed that UNICEF and the EU are already working towards the goals he has just articulated.
To cap up his activities during the period under review, Professor Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan earlier this month in September 2025, stated in Abuja in his lead presentation at the inaugural colloquium organized by Saban Media Services on a topic titled “Towards An Effective National Regulatory and Policy Framework on Artificial intelligence in Nigeria” that there is the need for clear legal framework and specialized regulatory bodies to address issues bordering on ethical concerns like privacy and bias in the AI subsector of the digital solution industry.
Accordingly, he highlighted the importance of fostering public trust and awareness in AI development and deployment. The colloquium which took place at Emerald Hall, A-class Park, Maitama, Abuja, with the theme “AI Policy In Nigeria, Navigating Opportunities and Challenges for National Development” was attended by government officials and many experts in the AI industry.
As we round off this mini treatise, it must be mentioned that Prof. Ladan in recognition of his 23 year experience as a leading African Human Rights lawyer, was recently invited by the President of the African Human Rights Court in Arusha, Tanzania, Hon. Lady Justice Imani D. Aboud, to deliver the lead presentation at the 2nd Tripartite Judicial Dialogue, organized by the African Human Rights Court, the East African Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
His presentation provided valuable insights and stimulated meaningful discussions amongst participants. In his delivery, he indicated that the time for fragmentation efforts is over. He urged African Human Rights court in his lead paper presentation to work together to promote justice, accountability, and the dignity of human beings.
In another meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Prof. Ladan emphasized the crucial role of trust, confidence and assurance in ensuring effective Witness Protection and Support Schemes in Criminal Justice Delivery around the world.
Presenting a paper titled “Formulation and Workability of Witness Protection Schemes or Support Systems Under Criminal Justice System” at a 3-day leadership course in Criminal Justice organized by the Nigerian Police Force in partnership with Peace Building Development Consult (PDBC), Prof. Ladan observed the following key factors, elaborating on them:
Who is a Witness?
Witness Protection and its relevance
Legal Framework for Witness Protection in Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System.
Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015
Anti-Torture Act 2017.
An Overview of the Witness Protection and Management Act 2022.
Who Qualifies as a Witness Under Act.
The Establishment of Witness Protection and Management Programme.
Criteria for Inclusion into the Witness Protection Programme.
Application, Approval and Termination of Witness Protection.
Provision of a Witness Protection Agreement
Termination of Protection and the Mandatory Nature of Notices.
Agreement with International Bodies, Institutions, Organization or Foreign Countries.
The Establishment of the Witness Protection Fund.
In his presentation, Prof. Ladan concluded that the scheme for Witness Protection and Support is a complex and capital intensive system necessary for upholding the rule of law and administration of justice without fear or favour.
Let us revisit the exit of Prof. Ladan from the Nigerian Institute of Nigeria Legal Studies as Director General. We had earlier said that encomiums were showered when he bowed out from his meritorious services from the Nigerian institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS) as the Director-General of that body. The climax in these encomiums was the delivery by Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Law Society. Dr. Clinton Jaja observed that Prof. Ladan’s dedication to empowering the next generation of legal scholars has yielded invaluable connections and opportunities.
He noted that “His (Prof Ladan’s) investment in law student’s and professional relationships has been remarkable”.
Presently in view for the scholarly schedule of the erudite Prof. Ladan is a 2-day capacity building programme for judicial officers, legal and registry staff of the ECOWAS Court of Justice on Trade Dispute Settlement. This is billed to take place in Abuja between October 3rd and 4th 2025.
The meeting tagged “Capacity Building on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms Under the AfCFTA and ECOWAS Instruments” will honour the presence of Prof. Ladan and other notable dignitaries. Prof. Ladan, who is the coordinating consultant for ECOWAS will coordinate the meeting.
Meanwhile, as he leaves his Director-Generals post at the NIALS, Prof. Ladan has been offered advisory/Technical Services Roles at the Nigerian AFCFTA coordination office, Abuja, where he is expected to use his wealth of knowledge and experience to benefit the organization.
In his doggedness to transfer knowledge to the younger generation, Prof. Ladan donated a 17-Chapter book on AfCFTA to the National Coordinator of that organization, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.
During the presentation of the book, Prof. Ladan and the Coordinator of AfCFTA identified immediate priorities for implementation in Nigeria, including amongst other things, the domestication of AfCFTA Agreement and Capacity building of relevant stakeholders.
Dr. Wamkele Mene, the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat commended the thoroughness of the book donated by Prof. Ladan during the occasion.