Civil Justice Transformation in Ogun State, Nigeria
Resolving justice problems at scale requires systems to change. Our process for encouraging transformation provides a foundation for justice leaders to build commitment and advance people-centred strategies. The goal is to initiate locally-owned strategies that innovatively and effectively produce a more user-friendly justice system.
For decades, Ogun State has been a place of interest for investors to set up and conduct business. As a satellite state of Lagos – Nigeria’s largest commercial hub – Ogun State plays an important role in the economic and justice development of Africa’s most populous nation. Business and justice are not usually viewed from the same perspective yet here they are inextricably connected.
In an effort to improve the civil justice journeys and experiences of Nigerians, and thus improve the ease of doing business in Ogun State, HiiL initiated a series of stakeholder dialogues (Justice Transformation Labs) to offer meaningful ideas on how to make the justice sector affordable, accessible, and easy to understand.
It is our vision for Ogun State to be the safest place to live, work and do business.
The Civil Justice Transformation Lab series contributes to the broader ambition of Ogun State’s Attorney General Akingbolahan Adeniran to transform attitudes, promote technology, and deploy (game-changing) activities in the administration of civil justice.
The labs involved a diverse group of 30 stakeholders convened to take up this challenge. They also gathered to examine the findings from the Justice and Needs Satisfaction (JNS) survey conducted by HiiL in 2018. During that study, 6,130 Nigerians across 18 states shared their justice experiences detailing, among others, the land, family, and neighbour disputes that too often adversely affect the ease of doing business.
Looking ahead, a Civil Justice Transformation Strategy is currently being written to help guide practical next steps towards resolving the civil justice issues in Ogun State.
The project is made possible with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ogun State Ministry of Justice, all participants of the Civil Justice Transformation Labs in Ogun State, and Roes Partners.
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