The African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL), in partnership with the Jurisprudence and International Department, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, is pleased to welcome scholars, practitioners, judicial officers, policymakers, students, and civil society actors to the ANCL Conference 2026. Held under the theme “Reimagining Constitutionalism in Africa: Balancing State Capacity and Non-State Governance,” the conference provides a timely platform to interrogate some of the most pressing constitutional questions facing the continent today.
Across Africa, debates on governance, legitimacy, democratic accountability, indigenous authority, judicial independence, constitutional reform, and public participation continue to shape the future of constitutional democracy. As states navigate complex social, political, and economic realities, there is an increasing need to rethink the relationship between formal state institutions and the diverse non-state actors and governance systems that influence public life. The 2026 conference seeks to contribute to these conversations by bringing together diverse perspectives from across the continent and beyond.
Over four days, participants will engage in rich academic discussions through plenary sessions, thematic panels, keynote addresses, and the EBF National Moot Court Competition Grand Final. The programme features contributions from established and emerging scholars examining constitutional legitimacy, self-determination, indigenous governance, electoral justice, human rights protection, judicial innovation, gender-responsive constitutionalism, and the future of governance in Africa.
ANCL remains committed to fostering critical scholarship and meaningful dialogue that advances constitutionalism, democracy, and the rule of law across the continent. As we gather in Ilorin, Nigeria, we look forward to robust exchanges that challenge conventional assumptions, generate new ideas, and contribute to building constitutional systems that are responsive to Africa’s diverse realities and aspirations.