NBA, UNICEF Seal N120m Deal to Expand Justice for Children

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have signed a ₦120 million agreement to enhance justice access for Nigerian children and youth. The collaborative effort, set to run from July 9, 2026 to March 30, 2027, targets improved legal representation, strengthened child-friendly justice systems, and expanded capacity for Lawyers handling youth cases.

NBA will spearhead policy advocacy, nationwide training for over 7,000 Lawyers, pro bono services, community awareness campaigns, legal-aid mechanisms, and quality assurance for legal representation. The program also aims to promote diversion and non-custodial measures instead of detention. This partnership expands on previous UNICEF-NBA joint initiatives focused on reducing child detention and overcrowding in juvenile facilities, strengthening child-protection systems, and promoting the Child Rights Act.

The new programme seeks to improve children's timely legal assistance, increase usage of diversion and non-custodial measures, reduce children's detention, and bolster legal-aid structures nationwide. It also seeks to empower children in justice processes and promote policies considering their unique needs. Given Nigeria's challenging child protection landscape, marked by conflict, displacement, poverty, and emergencies, this initiative underscores the critical need for robust systems to safeguard children and ensure access to essential services, including justice.

For the legal profession, this partnership places Lawyers at the forefront of efforts to make Nigeria's justice system more child-responsive, especially for those interacting with the legal system. Ultimately, the program's success will be measured by whether it results in better legal representation, fewer unnecessary detentions, and a justice system that protects children's rights and provides them opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.