Justice Transformation in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Resolving justice problems at scale requires systems to evolve. Following Justice Transformation Labs (JTL) in Imo and Ogun State, respectively, HiiL launched a JTL in Kaduna, Nigeria, a state nicknamed the Centre of Learning.

In collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, critical stakeholders, and state-wide justice leaders, HiiL will organise a series of stakeholder dialogues to help realise people-centred justice in Kaduna State. The Justice Transformation Lab series contributes to the broader vision of Kaduna State’s Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of “putting people first,” and seeks to initiate locally-owned strategies that innovatively and effectively produce a more user-friendly justice system.

Strengthened dialogue between justice stakeholders on justice needs will create the conditions for an enabling environment that can spur justice innovation and promote game-changing services for making people-centred justice happen in Kaduna state.

Kaduna with its long history of religious, ethnic and communal conflicts has continued to struggle with establishing a secured environment where people can live, work and do business without fear of violence. 

The 2022 Justice Transformation Lab and process in Kaduna State will:

  1. Convene a diverse group of stakeholders to exchange ideas and smart actions on bringing justice closer to the people.
  2. Devise an actionable strategy with clear outcomes for implementing accessible, affordable, and user-friendly justice.
  3. Identify key innovations and game-changing services positioned well to support and deliver justice to rural communities and the more vulnerable citizens in Kaduna State.
  4. Support SDG16 and signal to the global justice community that Kaduna (and Nigeria more broadly) stands by the notion of justice working for all and not just for a privileged few.  

The stakeholder dialogues will kick-off in early 2022 and continue through the Summer. A launch forum took place in Kaduna on 1 December 2021.

Further Reading

Cover image: Abuwale / Shutterstock.com