Nigerian Lawyer Yusuf Nurudeen Wins IBA Pro Bono Award

Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen, a Nigerian lawyer, received the International Bar Association (IBA) Pro Bono Award on October 8, 2026, during the IBA’s annual awards breakfast in Copenhagen, Denmark. The award was presented by Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, Chair of the IBA Section on Public and Professional Interest for 2025–2026.

Nurudeen dedicated the award to 141 volunteer lawyers working across 18 Nigerian states through the Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, also known as The Pro Bono Centre. In his acceptance speech, he shared his personal journey and commitment to justice, stemming from his upbringing in Ikotun, Lagos.

He emphasized the plight of vulnerable Nigerians who cannot afford legal representation, including those wrongfully imprisoned, women in abusive marriages, and children denied maintenance. Nurudeen described pro bono service as a professional responsibility and expressed his determination to ensure that poverty does not hinder access to legal defense.