Reimagining Jurisprudence: Nigerian Perspectives on Law, Theory, and Practice

ABOUT THE BOOK This book offers a comprehensive and context-sensitive examination of jurisprudence as a foundational discipline within legal education and scholarship. Designed to bridge theory and practice, it interrogates the philosophical underpinnings of law while situating legal ideas within Nigeria’s constitutional, social, and institutional realities. The work responds to the growing need for jurisprudential texts that move beyond abstract theorisation to address the lived experience of law in a plural and evolving legal system. The chapters explore classical and contemporary schools of jurisprudence alongside emerging perspectives relevant to developing legal systems. Analytical positivism, natural law theory, sociological jurisprudence, legal realism, critical legal studies, feminist and restorative justice theories are examined not merely as intellectual traditions, but as tools for understanding legal reasoning, adjudication, governance, and reform. Particular attention is given to how jurisprudential ideas influence judicial behaviour, statutory interpretation, administrative discretion, and public policy in Nigeria. Contributors engage critically with both indigenous and transplanted legal concepts, highlighting the tensions between formal legal structures and social norms, morality, economics, and politics. The book also addresses pressing contemporary issues such as constitutionalism, human rights, legitimacy of authority, access to justice, and the role of law in social transformation. Each chapter is written with clarity and pedagogical purpose, making complex ideas accessible without sacrificing scholarly depth. This volume is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate law students, legal academics, practitioners, judges, and policy makers. It serves as a core text for jurisprudence courses, a reference for advanced legal research, and a resource for anyone seeking to understand the philosophical foundations that shape Nigerian law and legal institutions. Ultimately, the book affirms jurisprudence as a dynamic and indispensable discipline for cultivating critical legal thought and promoting a responsive and principled legal order.To buy the complete hard copy or download a full copy of this book for offline reading on a laptop, mobile phone or desktop computer. Contact:Professor Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun15, Isheri Road, Avis Bus Stop, Aguda, Ogba, Lagosgodwinoye@yahoo.com; info@ogecops.com info@ogeprofessionals.comWebsite: www.ogeprofessionals.com+234-8033737184, +234-8055863944