By
Stephen Simon
The promotion and observance of Human rights, child welfare and awareness was at the centre of discourse during a gathering of lawyers, legal aid service providers and NGOs in Lagos State. The event which held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 was a sensitization and legal aid program organized by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in conjunction with the Child-to-child network and the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Surulere Branch with support from International IDEA.
At the event, Human Rights stakeholders participated in a sensitization and awareness road show that took them to various locations in the Surulere area of Lagos State while also engaging in legal aid clinic. A key feature of the gathering saw participants drawn from different parts of Lagos State benefit from legal counselling provided by lawyers at the event. Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs Akingbade welcomed the participants and groups who turned up for the event. She highlighted the success which came about as a result of the synergy among NGOs, the Bar and her Organization. Earlier, a representative of International IDEA, Mr Moses explained the idea behind the partnership between his Organization and NGOs noting that the overarching need to defend human rights was at the centre of their choices. He noted that many Organizations had benefitted from their partnership while promising to strengthen it. The representative of the Child-to-Child Network/CPN Margaret Nkire lent her voice to the call for greater vigilance amongst NGOs. She further emphasised the reason behind the sensitization program noting that the support of International IDEA was acknowledged.
The host, NBA Surulere Human Rights Committee used the occasion to charge the participants to make use of the knowledge and information imparted during the event. The Branch Vice Chairman/Chair of the Human Rights Committee Mr Henry Ezeanyim acknowledged all the groups and Organizations who worked toward the success of the event. The only paper delivered during the program focused on Sexual and Gender based violence (SGBV). Presenting the paper, Mr Ben Abraham Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Committee and Founder of Zarephath Aid shed light on the vast legal provisions that deal with SGBV in Lagos State. Some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent, expressed appreciation for the clinic while asking for more periodic engagements.
