NBA, UNICEF launch N120m legal aid partnership for juvenile offenders
… as FG pledges support, review of Child’s Rights Act
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Monday, unveiled a N120 million strategic partnership to guarantee free legal services for juvenile offenders.
The development came as the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) lamented the absence of detention facilities for children who come into conflict with the law, disclosing that currently, only three Borstal homes are available in the country.
An Assistant Controller General of Corrections, Mr. Dabit Timothy, who spoke during the launch of the free legal aid initiative, disclosed that a total of 1,205 children are presently on remand at the three Borstal homes located in Abeokuta, Kaduna, and Ilorin.
He, therefore, urged the NBA and the Federal Ministry of Justice to champion the campaign for the provision of Borstal homes in all the states, or at least one facility in each of the six geopolitical zones of the federation.
In his remarks, the President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the aim of the association’s partnership with UNICEF was to ensure that every child in the country can access justice, protection, and effective legal representation when their rights are violated or they are in conflict with the law, regardless of circumstance or background.
He noted that despite significant progress the country has made in advancing child rights through legislation and policy reforms, many children continue to face barriers in accessing justice.
“Too often, children who are victims of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, trafficking, child marriage, harmful traditional practices, or conflict with the law find themselves without adequate legal support when they need it most.
“For these children, lack of legal representation is a failure on our part. As legal practitioners, we occupy a unique position within society. We are not merely interpreters of the law; we are guardians of justice and defenders of the rights of the most vulnerable.
“The legal profession carries both a privilege and a responsibility to ensure that those who cannot afford legal services are not excluded from the protection that the law provides.
“It is in recognition of the important role lawyers play in promoting social justice in society that those seeking to be elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) are required to show proof that they have undertaken pro bono legal services to vulnerable or indigent members of society.
“This partnership between the NBA and UNICEF seeks to translate that responsibility into concrete action. Through this collaboration, we aim to mobilize lawyers across Nigeria to provide quality pro bono legal representation for children, strengthen referral pathways between justice and child protection actors, build the capacity of legal professionals to handle child-sensitive cases, and promote a justice system that places the best interests of the child at its center.
“I therefore call on every branch of the NBA, every law firm, and every legal practitioner to dedicate time, expertise, and resources to providing pro bono legal services for vulnerable children.
“I challenge every NBA branch to establish or strengthen pro bono schemes focused on children. I encourage law firms to dedicate a portion of their professional time to child protection cases.
“Through this partnership with UNICEF, we will work diligently to mobilize lawyers nationwide, strengthen professional capacity, facilitate referrals, and expand access to quality legal representation for the children who need it most,” Osigwe, SAN, added.
The country representative of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed, described access to justice as a fundamental right that is guaranteed for children.
She said the organization’s decision to partner with the NBA was founded on the principle that no child should be denied justice because of a lack of legal representation.
“This partnership seeks to ensure that children in contact with the law are protected, represented, and supported throughout the justice process, regardless of their background, location, or economic circumstances.
“Across Nigeria, children continue to encounter barriers when interacting with the justice system. Some find themselves in detention without legal representation. Others experience lengthy delays in case management, limited access to diversion opportunities, weak referral systems, and inadequate support services.
“These challenges underscore the urgent need for coordinated action and stronger investment in child-friendly justice systems.
“At UNICEF, we firmly believe that access to justice is not simply a legal issue. It is a child protection issue, a development issue, and a matter of human dignity. Every child, whether a victim, survivor, witness, or child alleged to have committed an offence, deserves fair treatment, due process, and the opportunity to have their voice heard.
“This is why the partnership we launch today is so important. The NBA is uniquely positioned to drive transformational change.
“Through its extensive network of legal practitioners, professional structures, and continuing legal education platforms, the NBA can help institutionalize child-sensitive legal representation and establish sustainable pathways for pro bono services across Nigeria,” she added.
On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was represented by the Director of Criminal Justice and Reforms Department in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, pledged the Federal Government’s commitment towards strengthening the legal and institutional framework for child justice.
The AGF maintained that Nigeria had already established important foundations through the Child’s Rights Act 2003, which, he said, is currently undergoing legislative review to accommodate current realities.
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