NBA, Presidential SDG office partner on rule of law, poverty
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the office of the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have signed a partnership to address challenges of rule of law and poverty in the country. The President of the NBA, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud (SAN) and the Special Assistant to the President on SDG, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, last week […]
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the office of the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have signed a partnership to address challenges of rule of law and poverty in the country.
The President of the NBA, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud (SAN) and the Special Assistant to the President on SDG, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, last week in Abuja, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to mainstream the SDG goals at the various levels of governance in the country.
The agreement has 19 articles, which seek to promote access to justice for the indigent and vulnerable groups, promote respect for the rule of law, protect human rights and human dignity, facilitate reforms in Nigerian laws and justice administration, and to fight bribery and corruption in all forms.
Others are, to ensure the development of effective, accountable and strong judicial institution in the country, to facilitate and ensure the realization of the objectives of the SDG goals by 2030, and to put Nigeria on the path of good governance.
Speaking at the event, Orelope-Adefulire said the office decided to partner the NBA because it has the people and resources to defend the defenceless and indigent in the society.
In a vote of thanks, the General Secretary of NBA, Isiaka Olagunji, commended the SGD office for tapping into the resource of the NBA, which is “the largest and strongest Bar in Africa.” He noted that NBA’s objectives have always been to use the instrument of law to achieve social change.
In his remark, the United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, commended the people in Nigeria for the commitment on the SDG goals.
He said the agreement is a milestone being the first national bar association to participate in the process to protect the interest of vulnerable groups.