The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have joined forces to push for major reforms that will protect children’s rights in Nigeria’s justice system.
This call was made during the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference in Enugu, which brought together more than 20,000 participants, including lawyers, policymakers, academics, civil society groups, and the media. The theme of the conference was “Stand Out and Stand Tall.”
At a special session titled “Ending Child Detention: The Role of the NBA in Advancing Justice and Reintegration”, legal experts and child rights advocates discussed how to stop the detention of children and make the justice system more child-friendly. The session was led by speakers such as Dr. Uju Agomoh, Mr. Kayode David, James Ibor, Esq., Nkiru Maduechesi, with Prof. Uche Emelonye as moderator and coordination by Mona Aika for UNICEF.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, stressed that protecting children must be a national priority:
“As the legal community gathers, it is important that children’s rights are at the heart of our legal discussions. Our partnership with the NBA is aimed at driving real change to build a justice system that protects, not punishes, children.”
The partnership between NBA and UNICEF will focus on: Promoting alternatives to detention for children, Reducing overcrowding in juvenile centers, Expanding access to legal aid for children in conflict with the law, Strengthening child protection systems in communities, Ensuring full implementation of the Child Rights Act across all states in Nigeria
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), said the association is committed to using its influence to push for reforms:
“Nigeria has good child protection laws, but there are gaps in enforcement. With UNICEF, we are committed to making sure our legal system truly protects the rights of children.”
This collaboration is seen as a major step toward ensuring justice, protection, and reintegration for vulnerable children across the country.
