The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has declared that the Federal Government is committed to the protection of children through pro bono legal frameworks, assuring that no Nigerian child would be left behind under the government’s justice reform agenda.
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Fagbemi, represented by a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ayoola Daniels, spoke on Monday at the launch of a strategic partnership between the Nigerian Bar Association and the United Nations Children’s Fund on pro bono legal services for children in Nigeria.
The launch, held at a high level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, drew representatives of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Law School, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the National Judicial Institute, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, development partners and civil society organisations.
The Attorney-General framed the initiative as central to the work of any justice system.
“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,” he said.
He continued: “Access to justice is not a privilege, it is a foundational right of every child. A child who comes into contact with the law, either as a victim, a witness or an alleged offender, deserves a system that protects, not harms, that restores and not stigmatises.”
Fagbemi said the country has already laid the groundwork for the reform.
“For the first time, justice for children has been recognised 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,” he said.
He set out what the policy prioritises. “Under the justice for children pillar, it prioritises children’s rights awareness, expanded legal aid, restorative justice, ending unnecessary detention of children, access to child friendly courts and other institutional capacity. This underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that no child is left behind in our justice reform agenda.”
He said the task ahead is one of execution. “We are not starting from zero point. The foundation exists, and our task now is the implementation, closing the gaps, strengthening referral pathways that translate into better pathways for children.”
He committed his ministry to the work. “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.”
The Attorney-General added that the partnership is expected to strengthen child sensitive legal services across the country by mobilising practitioners, improving collaboration among justice sector stakeholders, and ensuring that vulnerable children receive the legal support necessary to safeguard their rights.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN, described the initiative as “more than the beginning of a partnership,” but “a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to ensuring that every child in Nigeria, regardless of circumstance or background, can access justice, protection, and effective legal representation.”
He noted that although Nigeria has made significant progress through the Child Rights Act and other child protection frameworks, countless children still face enormous barriers in accessing justice, particularly victims of abuse, trafficking, exploitation, harmful traditional practices, child marriage, neglect and violence, as well as children in conflict with the law. Denying such children access to legal representation, he said, represents a collective failure of society and of the legal profession.
“As legal practitioners, we are not merely interpreters of the law; we are guardians of justice and defenders of the rights of the most vulnerable,” he said. “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.”
He said the partnership seeks to translate that responsibility into concrete action by mobilising lawyers nationwide to provide quality pro bono representation for children, strengthening referral pathways between justice and child protection actors, enhancing the capacity of practitioners to handle child sensitive cases, and promoting a justice system that places the best interests of the child at its centre. He added that the initiative aligns with the Association’s longstanding commitment to public interest law and supports Nigeria’s efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to peace, justice, strong institutions and the protection of children.
Commending UNICEF for its sustained work on child protection systems in Nigeria, the NBA President disclosed the value of the collaboration.
“This partnership between the NBA and UNICEF is to the tune of N140 million, and I know that a successful implementation of this programme 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,” he said.
He set out why the investment matters. “Children are the leaders of tomorrow, and we can’t have leaders 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 their experiences, made to be the worst persons and a danger to the society when they become adults.”
He added: “We are honoured to join hands in this important endeavour, and we hope that our ability to implement it will leave indelible footprints in the sands of time.”
Osigwe urged lawyers not to leave the protection of children to government institutions and social workers alone.
“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 the authority to advocate for the voices unheard,” he said.
He made a specific appeal on detention. “When a child survivor 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 adults but in an age appropriate facility, so they don’t mingle with adults.”
He challenged the Association’s structures to institutionalise the work. “I challenge every NBA branch to strengthen pro bono schemes focused on children. We encourage law firms to dedicate a portion of their professional time to child protection cases.”
He pledged the Association’s institutional support. “The NBA is fully committed to providing the leadership and structure necessary to make this vision a reality. Through this partnership with UNICEF, we will work diligently to mobilise lawyers nationwide, facilitate referrals, and expand quality legal representation to those who need it the most.”
Looking ahead, he said: “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.”
He closed by urging members to take up the 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 or circumstance.”
Speaking for UNICEF, the Country Representative said the partnership rests on a single principle: that no child should be denied justice for want of access to legal representation.
She said the collaboration 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.
She located the right in binding instruments, noting that access to justice is guaranteed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act, yet remains out of reach for many children.
“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,” she said, adding that these challenges underscore the urgent need for coordinated action and stronger investment in child friendly justice systems.
She said the issue cannot be treated as a narrowly legal one. “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.”
On why the Bar is the right partner, she said: “The Nigerian Bar Association 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 institutionalise child sensitive legal representation and establish sustainable pathways for pro bono services across Nigeria.”
The Country Representative addressed each set of stakeholders in turn, inviting them to move beyond commitment to action.
To the Bar, she said: “Just imagine if every practising lawyer in each NBA branch handles a case pro bono on behalf of one child every year in Nigeria.”
To the judiciary, she proposed a specific measure. “Just imagine what it would mean to justice for children if the Chief Judge of every State issues a Practice Direction to judicial officers in the state, requiring mandatory age determination and consideration of diversion measures if a child is brought before them for arraignment.”
To the Legal Aid Council, law enforcement agencies, correctional services and social welfare authorities, she urged stronger coordination mechanisms, referral systems and multidisciplinary approaches. To government ministries and policymakers, she called for sustained investment in child justice reforms, implementation of child rights legislation, and the resources needed to take child friendly justice services to every part of the country. To development partners, civil society, academic institutions and the media, she asked for support in generating evidence, raising awareness and strengthening accountability.
She said the initiative would be judged by outcomes rather than by the ceremony. “The success of this partnership will not be measured by today’s launch. It will be measured by the child who is reunited with family instead of remaining unnecessarily detained; the survivor who receives justice and protection; and the young person who is given a second chance through rehabilitation and reintegration rather than a lifetime of exclusion.”
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