Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma, Esq., has made history after being called to the Nigerian Bar, becoming widely celebrated as the first deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria.
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Danjuma, who hails from Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was among the new lawyers admitted to the Nigerian Bar during the 2026 Call to Bar ceremonies held between July 7 and July 10 at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.
Celebrating the milestone in a post on X, Danjuma described the moment as historic.
“First Deaf Lawyer from Northern Nigeria. Called to the Bar. History made,” he wrote.
Danjuma obtained his LL.B. degree in Common Law from the University of Ilorin, graduating with Second Class Upper Division, before proceeding to the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School for his Bar Part II programme during the 2025/2026 academic session.
His achievement has attracted wide commendation from colleagues, disability rights advocates and members of the legal community, who described his call to the Bar as a major step for disability inclusion, equal access and representation in Nigeria’s legal profession.
Danjuma, who reportedly became deaf at the age of 10, has built a strong profile in advocacy, leadership and disability rights.
While at the University of Ilorin, he served as Students’ Union Senator representing students with disabilities. He also served two terms as National President of the National Association of Nigerian Deaf Students, where he organised the association’s first national conference in 2023, launched the NANDS Magazine and received a Long-term Service Award.
His advocacy work also earned him international exposure. Between 2021 and 2024, he served as Youth Adviser on Human Development on the European Union Youth Sounding Board in Nigeria, advising on education, health and social protection policies affecting young people.
He was also a Coelho Law Fellow at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where he received specialised training in disability rights law and policy through the Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation.
During his Nigerian Law School programme, Danjuma completed externships at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, where he participated in legal research, drafting and court observation.
He currently serves as Programmes Lead at the Voice of Disability Initiative, coordinating advocacy projects, outreach programmes and disability inclusion initiatives.
Danjuma also acknowledged the organisations that supported his journey, particularly the Voice of Disability Initiative and the JASAN Foundation.
“To Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) for the partial support towards my Sign Language Interpreter. And to the JASAN Foundation for believing in me and awarding me a full tuition law school scholarship as a JASAN Scholar 2024,” he wrote.
“I’m incredibly proud of this milestone and excited for an impactful career at the Bar and beyond,” he added.
One of his close friends at the Nigerian Law School, Chukwu Nzubechukwu, also celebrated him, saying he learnt sign language in order to communicate better with Danjuma during their time at the Abuja Campus.
“My closest friend in NLS Abuja. Had to learn sign language so I could communicate properly with him. Got tired of using notes. Nemmy changed my life!!!!! Congratulations my brooo. Future AGF! God speed on every day my broooo,” Nzubechukwu wrote.
Danjuma also reflected on his journey to studying law, revealing that he initially missed admission into Law at the University of Ilorin after being offered Primary Education Studies.
“Waliu was the first Unilorin Law student I contacted when I was seeking admission in 2017. We would’ve been classmates but Unilorin gave me Primary Education Studies. I clicked ‘reject’ with the speed of light and tried again in 2018,” he wrote.
His professional interests include disability law and policy, human rights, international law and diplomacy, assistive technology, employment law and labour law.
Danjuma’s call to the Bar has been described by many as an inspiring moment for persons with disabilities, especially those seeking inclusion in professional spaces traditionally marked by access barriers.
His story has also renewed calls for stronger institutional support for sign language interpretation, disability-friendly legal education and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s justice system.
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