In a landmark achievement that underscores its renewed credibility and growing influence under the leadership of President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has secured a major institutional partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the implementation of a nationwide Justice for Children and Young People programme valued at ₦120 million. The institutional contract, which runs from 9 July 2026 to 30 March 2027, marks the return of a significant international development partnership with the NBA after years of diminished donor-funded institutional engagement.
The partnership represents a defining milestone for the current administration, demonstrating its success in rebuilding the confidence of international development partners in the NBA. Following the conclusion of the Association’s long-standing support from the MacArthur Foundation, many believed that such large-scale institutional collaborations would be difficult to restore. This new partnership with UNICEF signals a strong vote of confidence in the NBA’s capacity to deliver impactful national programmes and reinforces the Association’s position as a trusted stakeholder in justice sector reform.
Under the agreement, the NBA will spearhead a comprehensive programme aimed at strengthening access to justice through policy engagement, nationwide capacity building for lawyers, expansion of pro bono legal representation for children and young persons, quality assurance and mentoring, community awareness campaigns, and initiatives that amplify children’s participation in justice processes. The project also includes the establishment of structured legal aid mechanisms, advocacy for child-friendly justice reforms, diversion programmes, monitoring systems, and the training and certification of more than 7,000 lawyers across the country.
Among the programme’s expected outcomes are improved access to timely legal representation for children and young persons, increased use of diversion and non-custodial measures, reduced detention of children and young persons, stronger legal aid systems nationwide, and the development of sustainable policy frameworks that advance child rights and child-sensitive justice administration in Nigeria.
This partnership is more than a project, it is a testament to the NBA’s renewed institutional relevance on the global stage. It reflects an administration committed not only to defending the rule of law but also to forging strategic alliances that translate into meaningful impact for society. By restoring the confidence of international partners and attracting substantial programme funding, the NBA has reaffirmed its role as a leading voice for justice, human rights, and sustainable legal reform in Nigeria.
