Relief may have come the way of Nigerian children in conflict with the law as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Monday launched a N120 million strategic partnership to provide pro bono legal representation for vulnerable children across Nigeria.

This came amid concerns over child detention, weak referral systems and limited access to justice.

Among other functions, the unveiling in Abuja Monday was deployed to mobilise Nigerian lawyers for the purpose of providing legal representation for the vulnerable children who are victims of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and other violations, as well as children who come into conflict with the law.

While giving a remark at the launch, NBA president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, (SAN), said the partnership marked a shift from broad commitments on child protection to a structured legal response capable of ensuring that vulnerable children have lawyers when they need them.

The NBA helmsman noted that the absence of legal representation for children facing abuse, exploitation, neglect, trafficking, child marriage, harmful traditional practices, or criminal proceedings amounted to a collective failure of society.

 “This is not simply an act of charity. It is an act of justice,” Osigwe said, adding that the true measure of the legal profession should include its ability to protect vulnerable people and strengthen public confidence in the rule of law.