The Federal Government and the Nigerian Bar Association have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children’s rights and improving their access to justice through a new pro bono legal services partnership with UNICEF.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, gave the assurance on Monday during the launch of the partnership between the NBA and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Represented by a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ayoola Daniels, Fagbemi said access to justice was a fundamental right of every child, regardless of whether the child was a victim, witness or alleged offender.

He said the government’s 2025 National Policy on Justice had, for the first time, recognised justice for children as a distinct area of the national justice system.

Fagbemi said the policy prioritised children’s rights awareness, expanded legal aid, restorative justice and the elimination of unnecessary detention of children.

He said, “Access to justice is not a privilege but it’s a foundational right of every child. A child who comes into contact with the law, either as a victim or witness to an alleged offender, deserves a system that protects, not harms; that restores and not stigmatises.”

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Justice would continue to provide policy leadership, legislative support and inter-agency coordination towards a child-friendly justice system.

He added, “This underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that no child is left behind in our justice reform agenda.”

The outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the partnership with UNICEF was worth N140 million and would strengthen access to quality pro bono legal services for vulnerable children across Nigeria.

Osigwe said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that children could access justice, protection and legal representation regardless of their circumstances.

He commended UNICEF for its continued support towards strengthening Nigeria’s child protection system and said the partnership would also help build the capacity of lawyers to handle child protection cases.

Osigwe urged lawyers and NBA branches nationwide to dedicate resources and professional expertise to representing vulnerable children.

He said, “When a child’s survival 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.”

The NBA president also urged lawyers to ensure that children in conflict with the law were not detained alongside adults and that they were held in age-appropriate facilities where necessary.

He said the NBA would work with UNICEF to mobilise lawyers nationwide, facilitate referrals and expand access to legal representation for children in need.

Osigwe said the legal profession must ensure that poverty or difficult circumstances did not prevent any child from accessing justice and protection.