The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has renewed calls for urgent reforms to strengthen the protection of children’s rights within Nigeria’s legal and justice systems.

The appeal was made during the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference held in Enugu, which gathered over 20,000 participants, including legal practitioners, policymakers, academics, development partners, civil society groups, and the media, under the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall.”

At a high-level session themed “Ending Child Detention: The Role of NBA in Advancing Justice and Reintegration,” both organisations reaffirmed their joint commitment to creating a justice system that works in the best interest of children, particularly the most vulnerable.

“Children should never be behind bars simply because of who they are or the circumstances they are born into. Every child deserves protection, dignity, and a chance to rebuild their future. Our partnership with the NBA is about transforming the justice system into one that protects rather than punishes, empowers rather than excludes, and restores rather than breaks lives,” said Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.

The collaboration between UNICEF and the NBA is focused on expanding access to legal aid for children in conflict with the law, strengthening child protection systems at state and community levels, promoting alternatives to detention, reducing overcrowding in juvenile facilities, and advocating for the full implementation of the Child Rights Act across all 36 states of the federation.

NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), also stressed the association’s commitment to advancing these reforms. “Nigeria has made progress in enacting child protection laws, but enforcement remains a major challenge. Together with UNICEF, the NBA will continue to champion reforms that align with both national and international standards for child rights. This year’s conference provides the platform to mobilise the legal community toward action.”

UNICEF further highlighted that protecting children must extend beyond legal safeguards to include empowerment, reintegration, and lasting opportunities for every child to thrive.