In an effort to address the widespread lack of legal awareness among Nigerians, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Garki Branch, under the leadership of Chairman Anthony Bamidele Ojo, has announced the launch of a Legal Awareness Video Series. This initiative aims to educate the public on essential legal matters, thereby empowering citizens and promoting access to justice.
Recent studies highlight the pressing need for such initiatives. According to the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), approximately 81% of Nigerians experienced at least one legal problem in the past year, with many facing multiple issues. This translates to about 184 million unresolved legal problems every year, with vulnerable groups—such as women, low-income citizens, and informal workers—being disproportionately affected.

The initiative which is spearheaded by the NBA Garki Branch Continuing Legal Education Committee, will feature short, engaging videos covering topics such as interacting with law enforcement agencies, fundamental rights, digital rights, gender-based violence, contracts, tenancy rights and corporate law. The NBA Garki Branch aims to making legal knowledge more accessible by disseminating the videos through social media to reach a broad audience.

According to Chairman Anthony Bamidele Ojo who emphasized the importance of this initiative, “The protection of civil liberties begins with access to legal knowledge. Infringement thrives in ignorance, in other words, an enlightened citizenry is an empowered citizenry. In addition to this information, the Branch has established Committees to interface with members of the public who need legal services.”

Members of the NBA Garki Branch have expressed enthusiasm about the initiative.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Chukwu, a volunteer contributor to the video series, “This project not only allows us to serve the community but also positions our members as accessible legal experts. It’s a win-win for both the public and the legal profession.”

Members of the public who were interviewed have shown appreciation for the upcoming series.

According to Micheal Udeme, a Tech Startup owner entrepreneur, “Understanding legal processes has always been challenging for many of us. This initiative by the NBA Garki Branch will undoubtedly bridge the knowledge gap and help us protect our businesses and personal interests.”

Through this initiative, the NBA Garki Branch is taking a significant step towards enhancing legal literacy in Nigeria, strengthening the relationship between the public and legal practitioners.