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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Enugu State Government has launched the Law Enlightenment Project, known as LEPENS (Nkowa Iwu), a citizen-focused initiative designed to make legal knowledge more accessible and understandable to residents across the state.
The programme was unveiled at the Hon. Justice Umezulike Auditorium of the Enugu State High Court, where the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, described the initiative as “a visionary step towards making the law understandable, accessible, and truly meaningful to every citizen.”
Ezenwukwa noted that LEPENS was conceived under the administration of former Attorney-General, Dr Kingsley Udeh. “We remain proud of the firm foundation he laid, and we are determined to carry this vision to full maturity,” he said.
He explained that the programme would use digital platforms, radio programming, simplified legal guides and widespread community outreach to bridge the gap between the law and the people.
Project Director, Maximus Ugwuoke, said the initiative was developed after observing how many citizens lacked basic understanding of laws affecting their daily lives.
“For years, I saw citizens misinformed, unaware of their rights, unsure of their obligations, and often disadvantaged simply because the law felt distant or inaccessible,” he said. “I knew something had to change, and so I conceived LEPENS to simplify and demystify the law for every citizen.”
Ugwuoke praised Dr Udeh for expanding and institutionalising the initiative during his tenure as Attorney-General. “He recognised the power and necessity of this idea. Not only did he embrace it, he expanded its scope and secured its approval by the Governor,” he said.
Dr Udeh, now Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and Special Guest of Honour at the launch, described the project as “the birth of a legacy; a legacy of accessibility, empowerment, and justice rooted in awareness.”
He called LEPENS “a social justice infrastructure, a public enlightenment tool, and a development catalyst,” and pledged continued support despite his new federal assignment.
“Wherever I am called upon to support or strengthen LEPENS, especially through technology-driven public enlightenment; I will gladly do so,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice George Nnamani, stressed the urgency of improving public legal awareness. He criticised the long-standing legal principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse, arguing that it often places citizens at a disadvantage.
“In a nation of largely uneducated and uninformed people, the doctrine can be oppressive,” he said. Citing hypothetical scenarios and historical examples, he questioned how citizens are expected to know laws that remain buried in government gazettes.
“Many laws are unknown. How will citizens know a law has come into force if it is passed and left to gather dust?” he asked.
The launch brought together senior judicial officers, government officials, legal practitioners and civil society groups, all expressing optimism that LEPENS would foster a more informed and legally empowered society in Enugu State.
