FOI Counsel, in collaboration with Neplus Ultra, convened a high-level legal webinar on 9 November 2026 to examine the law, procedure and practice governing adoption and guardianship in Nigeria. The virtual event, hosted on Google Meet, commemorated World Adoption Day 2026 and promoted informed engagement with the legal and institutional frameworks governing child adoption and guardianship in the country.
The webinar brought together legal practitioners and professionals to examine the statutory requirements, procedural considerations, and practical challenges of adoption and guardianship proceedings in Nigeria. Particular attention was given to the role of legal practitioners in ensuring that adoption and guardianship processes are conducted within the bounds of applicable laws, with due regard to the rights, welfare, and best interests of children.
Saminu Wakili, Esq. of YC Mikaiyu & Co, delivered the lead presentation and provided the principal legal perspectives. Victoria Ezeigwe, Senior Counsel at Neplus Ultra, and Rifkatu Ali, Counsel at FOI Counsel, joined him as panelists. Their contributions enriched the discussions through professional perspectives on the legal framework, procedural practice, and the responsibilities of practitioners involved in adoption and guardianship matters.
The engagement underscored the importance of legal certainty, procedural compliance, and institutional accountability in administering adoption and guardianship. It also provided an opportunity to deepen professional understanding of the applicable legal processes and the need to ensure that the protection of children remains central to every decision and intervention.
A significant feature of the event was the formal launch of the last-quarter edition of the President’s Newsletter, titled “Adoption and Guardianship in Nigeria: Mandate and Procedure in Africa.” The chief launcher, Omotola David, questioned the failure of the Nigerian government to domesticate the Hague Convention
The publication complements the webinar’s objectives by extending the conversation beyond the virtual event and providing a platform to examine the legal mandates, procedural requirements, and broader African context of adoption and guardianship.
The launch reflects the organizers’ commitment to advancing legal knowledge, professional capacity, and public understanding of issues that have profound implications for child protection, family integrity, and access to justice.
The organizers reaffirmed the importance of sustained professional dialogue, research and public education in strengthening the administration of adoption and guardianship in Nigeria. They emphasized that effective adoption systems must be anchored in transparent procedures, competent legal representation, institutional responsibility and the paramount consideration of the child’s best interests.
The webinar is part of FOI Counsel and Neplus Ultra’s broader commitment to advancing legal education, strengthening professional engagement, and contributing to a more responsive justice system.
FOI Counsel is a public-interest law and policy institution engaged in strategic litigation, access to information, transparency, accountability, legal research, and policy advocacy, and Neplus Ultra is a legal practice and professional platform committed to advancing legal knowledge, professional excellence, and engagement with contemporary legal issues.