Lawyer Ikusika Urges Stronger Law Enforcement to Protect Women, Children in Nigeria

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20/01/26 • 41 Vues • 0 Partager • Publié dans Autre

British-Nigerian family lawyer and global gender justice advocate, Oluwaseun Ikusika, has stressed that effective enforcement of existing laws — rather than policy declarations — remains the most crit..

Ikusika made the assertion in an interview published on Tribune Online, where she examined challenges confronting Nigeria’s education, legal and child-protection systems.

According to her, countries that have recorded measurable progress in safeguarding women and children focus not only on drafting policies but on ensuring consistent implementation at the grassroots.

“Protecting women and children requires more than strong policies; it requires effective enforcement,” she said, urging Nigeria to strengthen teacher quality, expand access to legal aid, and ensure child- and gender-protection laws are applied consistently within communities.

Youth Population Is an Asset

Ikusika described Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population as a strategic opportunity for national development rather than a burden.

She said targeted investments in skills-based education, job creation and youth participation in governance would enable young Nigerians to drive innovation, economic growth and long-term stability.

“When young people are empowered, protected and included, they become catalysts for development,” she noted.

Gender Equality Needs Accountability

On gender equality, the advocate said Nigeria must move beyond commitments to measurable action through accountability mechanisms.

She called for full implementation of laws protecting women’s rights, improved access to justice, and institutional responsibility for violations, alongside efforts to tackle harmful cultural norms through education and economic empowerment.

Education for the Marginalised

Ikusika emphasised that access to quality education remains central to national growth, particularly for marginalised groups.

She urged government to prioritise funding for public schools in underserved communities, strengthen teacher training and expand inclusive and girl-focused education programmes. Civil society organisations, she added, must continue advocacy and community mobilisation to dismantle social barriers and hold institutions accountable.

Justice System Reforms

Addressing corruption and inefficiencies within Nigeria’s justice system, Ikusika advocated reforms built around transparency and technology.

She identified digitisation of legal processes, stronger oversight institutions, expanded legal aid services and whistleblower protection as key steps toward faster, fairer and more equitable justice delivery.

Passion for Family Law

Ikusika said her choice of family law was shaped by early exposure to domestic violence and child-protection cases during her legal training.

The experience, she explained, deepened her connection with victims and strengthened her commitment to advocacy for vulnerable women and children.

Having supported more than 300 women to obtain protection orders in the United Kingdom, she said the most fulfilling moments come from seeing survivors regain safety, confidence and control over their lives.

Advocacy, Leadership and Wellbeing

Ikusika noted that her work across law, policy and youth engagement is driven by community impact. She said legal practice informs her advocacy, while policy engagement helps translate lived experiences into long-term systemic reform.

As founder of 1inclusion4all, she said the platform promotes equality and inclusion globally, especially among young people, through engagement with schools, communities, intergovernmental bodies and the United Nations.

On leadership, she stressed that sustainable change requires purpose, consistency and people-centred service rather than titles. She also highlighted the importance of mental wellbeing, noting that rest, boundaries and support systems are essential for sustaining impact in demanding advocacy roles.

Looking Ahead

Ikusika said her focus remains on strengthening access to justice, expanding rights-based education and supporting policies that protect women, children and persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

Globally, she added, she plans to scale advocacy through strategic partnerships to ensure inclusion and protection move from promises to measurable outcomes.

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