Headfort Foundation for Justice has urged stakeholders and school administrators on the need to expose children and students early to diverse careers paths, including carreer in Human Rights Advocacy.
Speakers at the 2026 Career Summit organised by the foundation also corroborated this view.
Ms Olajumoke Ogunfowora, Head of Legal Department at Headfort Foundation for Justice, says the organisation’s human rights summit exposed students to diverse careers within the human rights sector.
Ogunfowora made the disclosure on Tuesday at Ikosi Senior Girls High School during the foundation’s: “Raising Change makers: Career Summit 2026,” in Lagos.
The theme of the summit is: “Becoming a Voice: Carreers in Human Rights Advocacy.”
Ogunfowora said that many students initially believed human rights careers were limited to the legal profession.
“The idea essentially is to help them see that there are careers in human rights other than law,” she said.
She said a pre-survey conducted among participants revealed that most students associated human rights work only with law practice.
According to her, the summit introduced students to opportunities in journalism, activism, social work and law enforcement.
Ogunfowora said the programme was designed to broaden students’ understanding of human rights careers across science, commercial and arts classes.
Participating schools included Ikosi Junior High School, Ikosi Senior High School, Ayedere Senior Grammar School, Kosofe Senior College and Ojota Senior Secondary School.
She noted that human rights clubs already existed in the schools but were often misunderstood as platforms only for aspiring lawyers.
“We are trying to get them to see that human rights club membership is for everyone interested in protecting the rights of others,” she said.
Delivering a keynote address, Dr Ene Sarah Unobe, Executive Director, International Centre for Human Rights, Nonviolence and Safety Awareness, urged youths to embrace human rights advocacy.
Unobe said young people possessed compassionate voices needed to promote justice and positive social change.
She warned that failure to engage youths in advocacy could expose them to cybercrime, cultism, drug abuse and electoral violence.
According to her, extremist groups and criminal networks often target youths because of their energy and willingness to explore new paths.
She stressed the need for human rights clubs and social platforms in schools to channel youthful talents toward leadership and positive causes.
Unobe said the decline of clubs such as Boys Brigade and Girls Guide created gaps exploited by cult groups and criminal influences.
She described young people as “change makers” capable of reducing injustice through proper guidance and empowerment.
According to her, introducing children early to human rights advocacy would inspire them to become ambassadors of justice.
“The world urgently needs a new generation of passionate human rights defenders committed to fairness and accountability,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Emmanuel Ukwueze, Chairman, Sub-Committee on Outreach, Advocacy and Sensitisation, Lagos NBA Human Rights Committee, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to defending abuse victims free of charge.
Ukwueze said the NBA Lagos Branch had intervened in several rights violation cases through court actions, advocacy and engagements with security agencies.
According to him, the association responds to complaints through calls, text messages and other communication channels.
He said the NBA had also protested alleged injustice within military institutions and organised sensitisation programmes in schools, markets and communities.
Ukwueze added that members regularly visited police stations to monitor detainees’ welfare and treatment.
“We check offences, cell conditions, detention duration and whether rights have been violated,” he said.
He explained that legal services offered by the NBA in human rights cases were provided on a pro bono basis.
“When I say pro bono, they are free of charge,” he said.
According to him, NBA lawyers still represent several inmates in court without payment and sometimes provide welfare support.
Ukwueze commended Headfort Foundation for Justice for the awareness programme and urged sustained advocacy across communities.
DSP Mogaji Idris of the Lagos State Police Command said early education on rights and responsibilities was vital to preventing deviant behaviour.
Idris, who serves in the Complaint Response Unit, said the unit focused on justice, accountability and protection of citizens’ rights.
He explained that the unit also ensured police officers remained accountable in their conduct.
According to him, human rights education should emphasise both rights and responsibilities expected from young people.
Idris commended organisers for targeting students, noting that early education would promote responsible behaviour and respect for the law.
“I like the fact that children are being involved and educated about their rights,” he said.
