NBA, UNICEF launch free legal services for vulnerable children

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched a significant partnership to expand access to pro bono legal services for vulnerable children throughout Nigeria. The initiative is built on the fundamental principle that no child should be denied justice due to poverty, disability, or other challenging circumstances.

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the partnership was founded on the principle that no child should be denied access to justice because of poverty, vulnerability, disability or other circumstances.

NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to mobilize lawyers nationwide to provide essential legal protection and effective representation for children whose rights are under threat. This program is designed not only to aid children in need but also to strengthen the professional capabilities of lawyers involved. It aims to establish a robust, nationwide network dedicated to safeguarding the rights and best interests of Nigerian children.

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the initiative would mobilise lawyers across the country to provide legal protection and effective representation for children whose rights were threatened.

Participating lawyers will undergo specialized training focused on child-sensitive justice, equipping them with the necessary skills to handle cases involving children more effectively. The partnership will connect these legal professionals to a structured referral system, offering them opportunities to contribute to public-interest law and foster a stronger culture of pro bono service within the legal profession. This initiative supports lawyers in fulfilling the public service expectations associated with professional excellence and leadership.

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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.

Osigwe urged NBA branches, law firms, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and other legal practitioners to actively engage in this cause. He called for pro bono service for children to become a defining culture of the legal profession, rather than merely a professional obligation. The presence of justice sector institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations at the launch signifies a collective commitment to enhancing child justice in Nigeria. The NBA reaffirmed its dedication to defending the most vulnerable members of society, asserting that the legal profession shines brightest when it champions those who cannot defend themselves.

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