The National Orientation Agency (NOA) is partnering with Headfort Foundation to ensure that many of the awaiting trial inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities have the opportunity of legal representation and quick delivery of justice.
The Director General of the Agency, Garba Abari who was elated with the work of Headfort Foundation said many Nigerians in detention are fully aware of their fundamental Human Rights, hence the need to provide platforms for the protection of these rights, one of which is through the provision of legal representation for people confronted by the law.
He said the new partnership will allow the NOA sensitize Nigerians on the new mobile application developed by the Foundation which allows awaiting trial inmates to access the more than 700 lawyers who have offered to freely take up cases of people being accused of crime by the law.
Director General of the Agency, Dr. Garba Abari, represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilization, Mrs. Ruth Ogun said public sensitization on human rights was in line with the cardinal mandate of the Agency, adding that NOA, for ease of understanding, would use local dialects to raise human rights awareness across the 774 Local Government Areas of the country. He said the Agency would use its robust platforms at the grassroot level as well as its programme tagged “Campus Focus” to sensitize the youth to shun the temptation of resorting to social vices while seeking respect for their rights.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Headfort Foundation, Barr. Oluyemi Orija said the Foundation would leverage NOA’s strength and platforms to drive its goals of providing access to legal aid and justice to indigent members of the society, promoting public awareness of Fundamental Human Rights and enlightening Nigerians on how best to relate with police.
Orija said that the Foundation is committed to four focus areas which are Legal Aid, Advocacy, Empowerment and Sensitization, adding that the organization initiates different projects that help with accomplishing its vision of providing free and easy access to justice to every citizen in the country.
Paul Odenyi
Assistant Director, Press.