… 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,
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