On Monday, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) made it clear that the Nigerian government is dedicated to safeguarding children thru legal pro bono programs.
Under the federal government’s justice reform system, Fagbemi promised that no kid in Nigeria would be left behind.
At the introduction of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) pro bono legal service for children in Nigeria in collaboration with UNICEF, he made this public.
Fagbemi, who was accompanied by Ayoola Daniels, a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be here today and emphasised the importance of a just system’s duty to guarantee that children have access to justice in a fair, fast, and respectful manner.
A system that safeguards, rather than injures, that restores, rather than stigmatises, should be in place for every kid who interacts with the legal system, whether as a victim or witness to an accused offender. Nigeria has accomplished a great deal in this regard.
The national policy on Justice 2025 has finally acknowledged children’s justice as a separate and systematic field. A more accessible and accommodating legal system is envisioned under the policy.
Priorities under the Justice for Children pillar include increasing access to legal representation, promoting restorative justice, and putting an end to the needless incarceration of children.
In order to make sure that no kid is left out of our justice reform program, the Federal Government committee is emphasising access to child finding courts and other institutional capacities.
We have already laid the groundwork; what remains is to put it into action, to fill in the gaps, and to fortify the referral mechanisms that lead to improved routes for children.
To make Nigeria’s judicial system more child-friendly, the Federal Ministry of judicial will provide policy leadership, legislative assistance, and inter-agency collaboration.
Former NBA president Afam Osigwe, SAN, spoke highly of UNICEF’s work to improve Nigeria’s child protection infrastructure. According to Osigwe, the NBA and UNICEF child protection relationship is valued at $100,000.
As he welcomed everyone to the event, he made it clear that this was a momentous occasion: the NBA and UNICEF have launched a strategic relationship to increase the availability of pro bono legal services in Nigeria.
Our shared goal is to ensure that all children in Nigeria, regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status, have access to fair treatment, safety, and competent legal counsel in the event that their rights are infringed upon or they find themselves in a legal dispute. Today is more than just a cooperation; it is a culmination of our combined efforts in this endeavour.
In addition to being in line with our long-standing laws and social service, this project will help the Nigerian government and people achieve the sustainable development goals, especially those concerning children’s rights, justice, peace, and institutions.
I applaud UNICEF’s dedication to bolstering Nigeria’s child protection system thru ongoing partnerships.
“We are here to make sure that children get the best and aren’t shaped to be the worst people and a threat to society when they grow up; children are the leaders of tomorrow, and we can’t have children if we don’t put our faith in them, take care of them, and live in a society that understands their circumstances and the difficulties they may face.
“It is a privilege to work together on this monumental project, and we pray that our results will be etched into the annals of history as a watershed moment for children’s rights.”
Attorneys, according to Osigwe, should not rely just on social workers and the government to ensure the safety of children; they should also do their part.
Dear colleagues, the responsibility of safeguarding children cannot be placed entirely on the shoulders of government agencies and social workers. We, the legal profession, have the expertise to understand and apply the law, the experience to successfully navigate the legal system, and the power to speak up for those whose voices have been silenced.
As a result, I’m making a formal plea to the NBA and all of the legal firms to help disadvantaged kids by offering their services for gratis.
“Let us be there to ensure that a child is not kept with adults, but in an age-appropriate facility, so they don’t mingle with adults. When a child’s survival of abuse requires legal representation, there should be a lawyer ready to stand by that child. When a child is unlawfully detained and denied due process, there should be a lawyer ready to defend that child’s right and insist that the right thing be done.”
His main point was that solicitors should use their expertise and resources to help protect children thru pro bono work.
Let it be said that when the history of child justice reform in Nigeria is written, the Nigerian legal profession rose to the challenge. When vulnerable children needed advocates, members of the profession stepped up and made justice available to those who had nowhere else to turn.