Fellows of Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (FLJLA) have unveiled the Eko Law App to help the over 20 million residents understand the state’s laws.
The fellows who revealed this at a press briefing to announce the app through the team lead, Capstone Team Ace, Mr Usman Adeniji, said the Eko Law App intends to improve the legal literacy level in the state.
He stated that the Eko Law App is important because of its benefits. He held that about 70 percent of residents had experienced a legal problem, but only about 30 percent had access to legal information.
Therefore, the fellows said that to address these challenges, it is essential to create a centralised and user-friendly legal resource that provides easy access to laws and legal information.
According to him, the app will help consolidate all relevant laws into a user-friendly app, simplify them in English, and translate them into Yoruba and then pidgin.
“The Project seeks to bridge the gap between legal complexity and public understanding, paving the way for a more informed, engaged, empowered citizenry.
“Access to laws and legal information is a significant challenge in Lagos State, Nigeria, where approximately 70 percent of residents have experienced a legal problem in the past year (Lagos State Ministry of Justice, 2021). Despite the importance of laws in governing daily activities, many residents lack access to clear and understandable legal information, with only about 30% having access to legal information (Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre, 2020).
“This leads to increased legal problems, over-reliance on informal sources, and a growing workload for the judiciary, with over 30,000 cases filed in 2022 alone (Lagos State Judiciary). To address these challenges, it is essential to create a centralised and user-friendly legal resource that provides easy access to laws and legal information,’’ he said.
Adeniji noted that many Lagos residents lack access to clear and understandable legal information, leading to increased legal problems and disputes.
