By Vaye Abel Lepolu
The Federation of African Law Students (FALAS) has officially ushered in a new era with the induction of Madam Izetta Jones Howe as its newly elected President, making history as the first woman to lead the continental body.
In her acceptance address, Madam Howe expressed humility and gratitude, describing her election as a collective achievement of FALAS members across Africa who have worked diligently to strengthen the organization. Quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, she emphasized resilience and unity as core values that will guide her leadership.
She outlined an ambitious vision to transform FALAS into a strong continental and global force for change. According to her, the organization will deepen collaboration with governments, civil society institutions, international partners, and particularly the African Union, to advance justice, peace, and integration across the continent.
Madam Howe identified five key priority areas for her administration: increasing FALAS’ international visibility, expanding its presence in Francophone countries, strengthening capacity building and leadership development for members, promoting community engagement on access to justice and human rights, and leveraging innovation and technology to enhance outreach and service delivery.
Addressing broader challenges facing Africa, the FALAS President stressed that leadership must go beyond titles and focus on integrity, service, and positive impact. She condemned the normalization of corruption, violence, and illegal actions, warning that such practices send dangerous signals to Africa’s youth. She called on law students to champion peaceful, legal, and democratic solutions to societal problems.
“Our greatest strength lies in the power of our voices,” she said, urging members to use the FALAS platform to advocate for human rights, good governance, and the rule of law. She reaffirmed her commitment to listening to members, supporting their professional growth, and uniting African law students under a shared vision.
Madam Howe also pledged strong partnership with the African Union to help advance Africa’s development agenda and promised to uphold the values of integrity, excellence, and service in representing FALAS on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s Minister of Justice, Cllr. N.Oswald Tweh who also addressed the gathering, challenged African law students to imagine a continent where legal education, professional mobility, and regional cooperation thrive without barriers. He emphasized that Africa’s progress depends on trust,trust in institutions, leadership, and justice systems which must be earned through ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability.
The Minister highlighted the historic role of students in Africa’s independence movements and democratic struggles, noting that law students remain uniquely positioned to identify weaknesses in legal systems and advocate for reform. He called for a new era defined by strong institutions, constitutionalism, accountable governance, economic justice, and continental unity.
