Empowering Nigeria’s blue-collar workers: A pro bono partnership for labour justice

One of the biggest challenges affecting blue-collar workers such as construction workers and private security personnel in Nigeria is widespread labour rights violations with little to no consequences for perpetrators.

To help combat this issue, TrustLaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono service, connected CYPLP and ISOPS, social impact NGOs, with the law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP, to create a Know Your Rights Guide for workers to better understand their entitlements regarding issues like fair compensation, unionising, and health and safety.

To celebrate this project’s nomination for an Impact Award as part of the 2025 TrustLaw Awards, we caught up with Dennis Ekwere, Executive Director at CYPLP, Abdul Ghani Oyaifo, President at ISOPS and Christina Holder, Public Interest Counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP to delve deeper into the impact and vision that drives their work forward.

What challenge were you facing or what legal information were you lacking?

“The problem was that we didn’t know much about the laws that protect regular Nigerian workers. We didn’t know how to use these laws to advocate for our rights at work, whether we have a formal job or not, or how to get help when our rights are not respected. “

_{– Dennis Ekwere}

Why were you keen to work on this project?

“I have a strong interest in international human rights, particularly the advancement of economic and social rights in Africa countries. I studied African human rights law in college and law school, and after graduating, I served as a human rights law fellow in Lusaka, Zambia where I conducted human rights research, education, and advocacy.”

_{– Christina Holder}

What did the pro bono lawyers give you to support?

“The pro bono lawyers explained the laws in a way that was easy for us to understand, even though we are not lawyers. They helped us understand what our rights are as workers and how regular people can get justice if their rights are violated. ”

_{– Dennis Ekwere}

How do you feel about the impact the work has had?

“I am thrilled by the project’s impact! Our clients have used the plain language know-your-rights guide to educate 10,000 Nigerian workers on their labour rights. Pro bono lawyers in Nigeria have used our research guide to represent workers in discrimination and wage disputes. We participated in legal training sessions and look forward to more this year.”

_{– Christina Holder}

Was there anything that stood out for you about the way the legal assistance was delivered by the law firm that helped make the project successful?

“What really impressed us about the lawyers’ help was how much they cared about doing a great job, their strong desire to succeed, and how dedicated they were to our project. They always listened to our thoughts and took charge of the research. They were always available when we needed them and met all the deadlines. ”

_{– Abdul Ghani Ayaifo}

Do you have any specific learnings from the case about how to deliver a successful pro bono project that would be useful to pass on to other lawyers?

“When engaging in cross-border pro bono, be humble and let your clients take the lead as they are the experts in local challenges and opportunities. While telephone and video conferencing can facilitate pro bono across borders, low-tech solutions, including printed rights guides, continue to play an important role in educating people about their rights.”

_{– Christina Holder}