The Chairman of the Law Reform Commission(LRC) of Liberia, Cllr. Bornor Varmah, has challenged the next generation of African Lawyers to become the architects of economic integration on the continent.
Delivering the Keynote address at the opening of the Federation of African Law Students conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday, October 26, Cllr. Varmah said the theme: “Beyond Borders, Beyond Barriers” is not a just slogan but also a call to action.
He said political independence alone has not delivered prosperity, adding that Africa needs lawyers who can draft modern legislation, negotiate commercial agreements, design regulatory frameworks and solve cross-border legal problems.
According to him, African markets remain fragmented, customs procedures and differing commercial laws continue to block trade, and young innovators still struggle to expand across borders that should connect rather than divide the continent.
African Law Students Must Lead AfCFTA Implementation
Cllr. Varmah argued that the African Continental Free Trade Area is more than a trade deal, saying it is a legal reform agenda.
The West African Bar Association President told delegates at the Addis Ababa Conference that Africa’s next generation of lawyers must move beyond traditional courtroom roles to become architects of economic integration, legal reform and the practical realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He noted that without reliable contracts, consistent regulations, efficient customs systems and trusted dispute resolution; trade on the continent cannot flourish.
The LRC boss then called for stronger training in international trade law, technology law, competition law, digital commerce and alternative dispute resolution.
Speaking under the theme: “Beyond Borders, Beyond Barriers,” Cllr. Varmah further challenged the students to use their training to dismantle regulatory obstacles, modernize commercial laws, and turn the AfCFTA from a signed agreement into a functioning single market that expands opportunities for African businesses, innovators and young people.
“What kind of Africa will exist because your generation chose to study law?” he asked. “Will it be an Africa where borders divide opportunities, inconsistent laws discourage trade, and bureaucratic barriers frustrate the ambitions of young entrepreneurs? Or will it be an Africa where the law connects markets, protects innovation, facilitates investment, and empowers our people to prosper together?”
He traced Africa’s journey from political independence, marked by the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963 and its evolution into the African Union—to the unfinished task of economic liberation.
Despite the continent’s resources, youthful population and entrepreneurial energy, he said markets remain fragmented while trade among African states faces persistent legal and administrative hurdles.
The LRC Chair added that the AfCFTA, which entered into force in 2019 with trading commencing in January 2021, offers a path forward, he argued. Yet signing the agreement is not enough. Success will depend on effective laws, capable institutions, predictable regulations, efficient customs systems and reliable dispute-resolution mechanisms.
“AfCFTA is not merely a trade agreement; it is also a legal reform agenda and a leadership challenge for Africa’s next generation,” Cllr. Varmah said. “And you, the young lawyers of Africa, must be among its principal architects.”
Cllr. Varmah stressed that law reform means more than amending statutes and that it requires identifying obstacles to development, strengthening legal certainty, and creating enabling environments for enterprises, while respecting national sovereignty and diverse legal traditions.
The goal, he said, is “legal coherence in the service of African prosperity,” not uniformity for its own sake.
He challenged law students on the continent to master the law while understanding its developmental purpose; think beyond national borders and study AfCFTA and regional systems; actively pursue law reform; embrace technological change; defend integrity and the rule of law; and begin contributing immediately through research, mentorship, and civic engagement.
He urged African law faculties to expand training in trade, technology, and commercial regulation, and encouraged the Federation of African Law Students (FALAS) to build continental research networks, launch AfCFTA-focused moot competitions, and generate policy proposals that influence reform.
“Do not simply ask whether a law exists. Ask whether it works,” he said.
“Do not simply ask whether an agreement has been signed. Ask whether its benefits are reaching the people. Do not simply ask whether Africa has potential. Ask what you are doing to help Africa realize it.”
Meanwhile, Cllr. Varmah expressed confidence that the students could help transform the continent if they combined knowledge with integrity and ambition with service.
“May you be remembered not merely as the generation that studied African law, but as the generation that used the law to bring Africa closer together,” he said.
“Africa is calling. The law is our instrument. Innovation is our opportunity. Pan-African solidarity is our strength. And the future is our responsibility.”
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