LEADERSHIP Wins Access To Justice Award

LEADERSHIP Newspaper has been honoured as the best Media Organisation Promoting Access to Justice Awareness in Nigeria by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC).

The award was presented during the 2025 Access to Justice Parley, held at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) House in Abuja.

Other individuals and institutions advancing justice reforms across the country were also recognised.
LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group News Editor, Dr Sunday Isuwa, received the award on behalf of the company.

Other recipients included the Rivers State Judiciary, which was recognised for its strides in technological adoption; the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), honoured for its contributions to criminal justice reform; and Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi of WRAPA, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hope Behind Bars Africa received the Pro Bono Excellence Award, while the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) won the Research and Policy Impact Award. FIDA Nigeria received the Community Engagement/Champion Award.

Speaking at the event, PPDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Abagi, said the awards recognised those who had used their platforms and voices to make justice accessible to every Nigerian.

“These awardees remind us that accountability is not a slogan—it’s a daily commitment.

“Through their work, they have proven that one person, one action, and one decision can transform lives”, she said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Prof. Dakas Dakas (SAN), emphasised the need for synergy among justice, governance, and security.

“The strength of every nation lies in the quality of its laws, the fairness of its justice system, and the integrity of its governance.

“Nigeria cannot afford to treat these pillars in isolation”, he said.

He added that the Commission was committed to driving reforms that would make justice more accessible and governance more accountable.

The former Plateau State Attorney General noted that the platform offered an opportunity to co-create solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

“Security without justice is deteriorating, justice without governance is fragile, and governance without security is unsustainable. These must work together for national renewal,” he declared.