About Us

Sterling Centre for Law & Development (SCLD) is a Nigerian justice‑sector NGO dedicated to expanding access to justice, strengthening rule of law institutions, and protecting human dignity, particularly for people in detention and other vulnerable groups. Since 2014, SCLD has combined strategic litigation, legal aid, policy reform, and capacity building to drive measurable and lasting change across the justice system.

 

Headquartered at House 1, Paragon Estate, off Oladipo Diya Way, Kaura District, Abuja, SCLD is incorporated as a Trust with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/IT/73369). Over the years, the organisation has built a strong reputation for its work in anti‑torture advocacy, detention monitoring, police and corrections reform, access to justice, gender‑based violence and child protection, civic freedoms, and governance and accountability.

 

SCLD operates across the Federal Capital Territory and in Nassarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Lagos, Kaduna, Kwara, Ogun, Rivers, Anambra, Adamawa, Borno, and Enugu States, supported by a wide network of partners throughout Nigeria. Through this footprint, the organisation continues to advance a justice system that is fair, humane, and accessible to all.

Vision

A Nigeria where every person enjoys equal access to justice and lives with dignity under the rule of law.

Mission

To prevent and remedy human rights violations by providing legal services, strengthening institutions, and advancing people-centred public policy.

Our Values

Integrity • Dignity • Evidence • Collaboration • Non-discrimination • Accountability

What We Do

  • Access to Justice & Legal Aid

    Early-access advice, case intake and triage, court representation, alternative dispute resolution, and strategic referrals for psychosocial support.

  • Detention Monitoring & Anti-Torture Work

    Station/prison visits, custody audits, medical/legal documentation, complaints escalation, and litigation to enforce constitutional and statutory safeguards.

  • Strategic Litigation & Policy Reform

    Public-interest cases that clarify rights; amicus briefs; legislative drafting support; implementation toolkits and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

  • Research, Training & Capacity Building

    Practitioner handbooks, monitoring templates, CPD workshops for police, corrections, prosecutors, judges, CSOs, and community paralegals.

  • Public Education & Advocacy

    Rights awareness campaigns, media engagement, and community outreach in local languages.

Our Approach

People-centred

Survivors and communities guide priorities and solutions

Evidence-led

We pair casework with research, monitoring data, and learning loops.

Partnerships first

We co-deliver with bar associations, clinics, academia, and state actors willing to reform.

Systems change

We target root-cause fixes; SOPs, training, oversight, budgets. not just case-by-case remedies.

Do no harm

Trauma-informed, survivor-safe processes; confidentiality and safeguarding are non-negotiable.

Our Scorecard

In the last 24 months

0

Detainees accessed Legal Aid

0

Unlawful Detentions Challenged

0

Judges Trained

0

Strategic Cases Filed

0

Policy Changes Supported

0

SGBV Cases Successfully Challenged

Governance

SCLD adheres to strong governance practices aligned with Nigerian law and international NGO standards.

Governing Board (non-executive oversight)

  • Approves strategy and budgets; oversees risk, audit, and compliance; appoints and reviews the Executive Director.
  • Meets at least twice yearly; maintains conflict-of-interest registers and independent audit.

Executive Management

  • Executive Director: overall leadership, partnerships, fundraising, and compliance.
  • Programme Directors/Leads: Access to Justice; Detention & Anti-Torture; Research & Policy; Operations & Finance; M&E & Learning.

Board Committees

  • Audit & Risk Committee: financial oversight, audit liaison, risk register.
  • Programmes & Quality Committee: results, safeguarding, ethics review.
  • Governance & Nominations Committee: board performance, succession, DEI.

Advisory Council

Subject-matter experts providing pro bono technical guidance on anti-torture, criminal justice reform, and strategic litigation.

Partners & Networks

We build broad-based coalitions to scale impact.

Institutional partners:

  • National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
  • Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON)
  • Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Sections/Committees
  • Federal/State Ministries of Justice
  • Nigeria Police Force & Nigerian Correctional Service (policy/training cooperation)
  • Judiciary (ACJA Monitoring Committees)
  • Tertiary institutions and law clinics.

Civil society & professional networks:

  • Justice and human rights NGOs
  • Women’s rights/GBV organisations
  • Disability-rights groups
  • Community-based paralegal networks
  • Research and policy think tanks
  • Media partners.

Pro Bono & Technical Support

Our sister organisation, Sterling Solicitors provides most of the pro bono services, and independent experts contribute to strategic cases, research, and training.

Interested in Partnering?

Write to partnerships@sterlinglawcentre.org

Get Involved

Board of Directors

Nanpon Wuyep
Chairman, Board of Trustees

Kyura Grace Nyam
Member, Board of Trustees

Deji Ajare
Member, Board of Trustees

Bidemi Femi
Member, Board of Trustees

Nenko Ntiadem
Member, Board of Trustees

Fisayo Aina
Company Secretary

Address

House 1, Paragon Estate, No. 14 Olivier Alawuba Street,
off Oladipo Diya Way, Kaura,
Abuja

Telephone

+234 9 292 0963

WhatsApp

+234 905 136 1884

Email

info@sterlinglawcentre.org

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