The Nigerian Bar Association and the United Nations Children’s Fund have launched a partnership to expand access to pro bono legal services for vulnerable children across Nigeria.

The initiative was launched at an event attended by stakeholders in the justice and child protection sectors, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, representatives of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the National Judicial Institute, the Nigerian Correctional Service, development partners, civil society organisations and members of the legal profession.

Speaking at the event, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the partnership was founded on the principle that no child should be denied access to justice because of poverty, vulnerability, disability or other circumstances.

Osigwe, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, said the initiative would mobilise lawyers across the country to provide legal protection and effective representation for children whose rights were threatened.

According to him, the collaboration would strengthen the professional capacity of lawyers, improve referral pathways and establish a nationwide network of pro bono legal services focused on protecting the rights and best interests of Nigerian children.

He said participating lawyers would receive specialised training in child-sensitive justice and be equipped to handle cases involving children more effectively.

The NBA president added that the partnership would connect lawyers to a structured referral network and provide opportunities for members of the profession to contribute to public-interest law.

He said the initiative would also strengthen the culture of pro bono service within the legal profession while supporting lawyers in meeting the public service expectations associated with professional excellence and leadership.

Osigwe urged NBA branches, law firms, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and other legal practitioners to participate in the initiative.

“Let us make pro bono service for children not merely a professional obligation, but a defining culture of our profession,” he said.

The NBA president said the participation of justice sector institutions, development partners and civil society organisations demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening child justice in Nigeria.

He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to defending vulnerable members of society, saying the legal profession was at its best when it stood up for those who could not defend themselves.

Osigwe expressed appreciation to UNICEF and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative, describing the launch as the beginning of a broader effort to ensure that children across Nigeria could access justice and legal protection regardless of their circumstances.

Also speaking at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented by the Director of Criminal Justice and Reforms Department in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, said the Federal Government was strengthening the legal and institutional framework for child justice.

He noted that Nigeria had established important foundations through the Child Rights Act 2003, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, state Child Rights Laws, diversion initiatives and restorative justice mechanisms.

He identified the recognition of “Justice for Children” as a distinct thematic area in the National Policy on Justice 2025 as a major development.

Fagbemi stressed that the policy prioritised children’s rights awareness, expanded legal aid, diversion and restorative justice, ending unnecessary detention of children, child-friendly courts, specialised services and stronger institutional capacity.

He, however, warned that legislation and policy would have little impact unless they were translated into practice at police stations, courts, correctional facilities and within communities.

He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Justice had developed and was deploying the Prosecutors’ Guidelines on Handling Cases Involving Children and the Legal Aid Guidelines for Children in Contact with the Law, with support from UNICEF.

He stated that other measures included the Non-Custodial Sentencing Guidelines 2020 for the FCT High Court and a Harmonised Restorative Justice Training Curriculum and Manual aimed at promoting accountability, rehabilitation and reintegration rather than unnecessary criminalisation of children.

On the Child Rights Act, the minister said the legislation was undergoing a clause-by-clause review following the inauguration of a review committee.

She mentioned that the proposed amendments were expected to modernise the law to address contemporary challenges, including digital safety, child marriage and justice reform.

The amendments, he added, would also strengthen provisions on legal representation, diversion, alternatives to detention, child participation and implementation.

The UNICEF Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the partnership with the NBA was founded on the principle that no child should be denied justice because of a lack of legal representation.

She asserted that children across Nigeria continued to encounter detention without legal representation, delays in case management, limited diversion opportunities, weak referral systems and inadequate support services.

She described access to justice as not merely a legal issue but also a child-protection, development and human-dignity issue.

According to her, UNICEF and the NBA would work to strengthen lawyers’ capacity, improve referral mechanisms, support diversion and rehabilitation and expand quality legal representation for children.

Saeed challenged the NBA to mobilise lawyers in every branch of the federation, proposing that if every practising lawyer handled at least one pro bono child-justice case annually, it could significantly expand access to justice for vulnerable children.

She added that the partnership would provide a framework for lawyers to contribute to child protection while ensuring that children in conflict or contact with the law receive appropriate legal support.

Saeed said the initiative would also help bridge gaps in the justice system by improving the connection between lawyers, justice institutions and child-protection services.