‘Every Nigerian child will be protected’ – FG, NBA speak on pro bono partnership with UNICEF

The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Monday declared that the Nigerian government is committed to the protection of children through legal pro bono frameworks.

Fagbemi assured that no Nigerian child would be left behind under the Federal Government’s justice reform system.

He made this known during the launch of pro bono legal service for children in Nigeria between the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

Represented by a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ayoola Daniels, Fagbemi said: “It’s an honour to join you today as we focus on one of the most important responsibilities of any justice system, ensuring that children have fair, timely, and dignified access to justice.

“Access to justice is not a privilege but it’s a foundational right of every child, a child who comes into contact with the law either as a victim or witness to an alleged offender deserves a system that protects, not harms, that restore and not stigmatize. Nigeria has made significant strides in laying the foundation for this.

“For the first time, Justice for children has been recognized as a distinct, systematic area in the national policy on Justice 2025. The policy provides a framework for a more inclusive and responsive justice system.

“Under the Justice for children’s pillar, it prioritizes children’s right awareness, expanded legal aides, restorative justice ending unnecessary detention of children.

“Access to the child finding courts and other institutional capacity, this underscores the Federal Government committee to ensure that no child is left behind in our Justice reform agenda.

“We are not starting from zero point, the foundation exists and our task now is the implementation, closing the gaps, strengthening referral part ways that translate into better pathways for children.

“The Federal Ministry of Justice reaffirms its commitment to providing policy leadership, legislative support, and inter-agency coordination to make Nigeria’s justice system child friendly.”

On his part, the outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, commended UNICEF for strengthening the child protection system in Nigeria.

Osigwe said the partnership between NBA and UNICEF on child protection is worth $100,000.

He said: “It’s my great pleasure to welcome all of us to this important gathering marking the launch of a strategic partnership between the NBA and UNICEF to strengthen access to pro bono legal services across Nigeria.

“today represents more than a partnership, it’s a collection of our collective commitment to ensuring that every child in Nigeria regardless of circumstances or background can access justice, protection, and effective legal representation when their rights are violated or in conflict with the law.

“This initiative aligns with our long standing law and service to the society, it also supports the Nigerian broader to support the sustainable development goals, particularly those relating to peace, justice, from the institutions, and protection of children.

“I commend UNICEF for its continued partnership and strengthening the child protection system in Nigeria. This partnership between the NBA and UNICEF is to the tune of N140 million and I know that a successful implementation of this program will lead to more funding from UNICEF and also increase the capacity of lawyers to act in various ways to protect the rights of children.

“Children are the leaders of tomorrow and we can’t have children of tomorrow if we don’t invest in them, if we don’t protect them, if we don’t have a society that is sensitive to their plight and the challenges they may face, we are there to ensure that they get the best and not by there experiences made to be the worst persons and a danger to the society when they b come adult.

“We are honoured to join hands in this important endeavour and we hope that our ability to implement it will leave indelible foot prints in the sands of time and we will forever be remembered as a golden moment in the rights of children.”

Osigwe urged lawyers not to leave the protection of children solely to the government and social workers, stressing that they have an important role to play.

He said: “To our dear colleagues, the protection of children can’t be left solely to government institutions and social workers, as lawyers we have a unique role that no other profession can fulfil, we possess the knowledge to interpret the law, the skill to navigate the justice system, and authority to advocate for the voices unheard.

“I therefore call on every branch of the NBA, law firm to dedicate time, resources, expertise to providing pro bono services to vulnerable children.

“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, let there be a lawyer ready to defend that child’s right and insist that the right thing be done, if a child is to be incarcerated, let us be there to ensure that the child is not kept with adult but in an age appropriate facility, so they don’t mingle with adults.”

He charged lawyers to dedicate their skills and resources towards pro bono services for the protection of children.

“I challenge every NBA branch to strengthen pro bono skills focused on children, we encourage law firms to dedicate a portion of their professional time to child protection cases.

“The NBA is fully committed to providing leadership, structure, necessary to make this vision a reality, through this partnership with UNICEF, we will work diligently to mobilize lawyers nationwide, facilitate referrals, and expand quality legal representation who need them the most.

“When the story of child justice reform in Nigeria is written, let it be said that the Nigerian legal profession answered the call, let it be said that when vulnerable children needed champions members of the legal profession stood up, stepped forward, and made Justice accessible to those with nowhere else to turn to.

“Together let us transform the pro bono legal service to an admirable aspiration into a nationwide movement that ensures every child can access justice protection and hope because you must give to these children because without it the future will be clean for them.

“As we embark on this partnership, I call on members to embark on projects bono scheme, every child deserves protection, every child deserves access to justice, let us join together to build a future where no child’s future is denied because of poverty due to circumstances.”