The 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu placed children’s rights at the forefront of national legal discourse, as the Association joined forces with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to demand an end to child detention in Nigeria.
During a breakout session themed “Ending Child Detention: The Role of the NBA in Advancing Justice and Reintegration,” experts including Dr. Uju Agomoh, Mr. Kayode David, James Ibor, Esq., and Nkiru Maduechesi, engaged in robust discussions moderated by Prof. Uche Emelonye, with coordination by UNICEF’s Mona Aika. The session set the tone for a joint call to action by UNICEF and the NBA, urging urgent reforms to safeguard children’s rights in the justice system.
In a press release issued on August 28, UNICEF and the NBA reiterated their shared commitment to promoting fair, timely, and child-sensitive justice, particularly for vulnerable children. The partnership will focus on four priority areas: promoting alternatives to detention, strengthening child protection systems, expanding access to legal aid, and ensuring full implementation of the Child Rights Act across all 36 states.
Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, emphasized that placing children’s rights at the heart of justice reforms is vital. She noted that with its reach and influence, the NBA can spearhead systemic changes to build a justice system that protects rather than punishes children.
NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, acknowledged progress made in enacting child protection laws but pointed to gaps in enforcement. He reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to working with UNICEF to align Nigeria’s justice system with both national and international standards on child rights.
With more than 20,000 delegates in attendance, the 2025 conference—held under the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”—provided a high-level platform for lawyers, policymakers, development partners, civil society, and the media to rally around child justice reform.
Both UNICEF and the NBA underscored that true justice for children must be anchored in protection, empowerment, and reintegration. Their collaboration, they said, marks a growing movement within Nigeria’s legal sector to turn policy commitments into tangible results for the nation’s youngest citizens.
