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SPOTLIGHTS
- The Call a Lawyer Initiative provides free legal aid to vulnerable groups in Nigeria
- The initiative focuses on reaching rural communities with limited access to legal representation
- The group is translating the Constitution into local languages to improve awareness of human rights
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
A coalition of human rights lawyers, under the banner of the Call a Lawyer Initiative, has pledged to provide pro bono legal aid to marginalised individuals and communities across Nigeria.
Speaking at the Nigeria Human Rights Conference and Human Rights Honour event in Abuja, Executive Director Stanley Ekpa explained that the initiative aims to bridge the justice gap for underprivileged and underserved populations.
Ekpa revealed that the group has already assisted over 300 vulnerable individuals and raised human rights awareness among approximately 3,000 people. He highlighted their commitment to expanding their reach, particularly in rural areas.
“We are a human rights non-profit providing free legal services to vulnerable groups in Nigeria who cannot afford legal representation. We are focused on rural communities first because we believe that real issues of human rights abuse and violations exist,” Ekpa stated.
He further explained that they are translating the fundamental human rights sections of the 1999 Constitution into various Nigerian languages to improve understanding and awareness at the grassroots level. They have already translated the document into six languages and held a community meeting in Kano to share the Hausa version.
Ekpa emphasised the importance of collaboration, stating that the conference aimed to bring together stakeholders such as the Legal Aid Council, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the police, and the Human Rights Commission to support their cause.
