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Young Change Maker – Adeola Austin Oyinlade

Adeola Austin

The Need
Many people are ignorant of their rights and responsibilities as enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution, thus they infringe on others peoples’ rights as well as allow their own rights to be infringed on due to ignorance of the law and constitution.

The Innovative Idea Response:
This initiative is a weekly radio program tagged “Know Your Constitution” on the University of Lagos Campus Radio Station 103.1 FM, reaching the campus and environs.

The Story
In a society where many people are denied their rights because they do not know what the law says, Adeola, a student, decided he could do something about it instead of just wishing government could do more to enlighten its citizenry. Considering the options and resources at his disposal, he saw a window in the Campus FM Radio station of University of Lagos. After much discussion and dialogue he secured airtime and holds a weekly broadcast “Know Your Constitution” on UNILAG 103.1 FM station which promotes the awareness of people from all works of life on their rights in the Nigeria’s Constitution and other laws in force in Nigeria. He picks different aspects of the constitution and laws for discussion. Interestingly, the reputation of the program has grown so much that reputable legal icons like Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman Nigeria Electoral Reform Committee, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, former president Nigerian Bar Association among others have featured on the program. The program also has a team of lawyers offering free legal services to listeners and especially the poor who can’t afford legal fees.

Result
The program has empowered Lagosians to make legal decisions on legal matters. For instance, people through the program have followed due process and secured their land titles over properties they purchased. The program has created easy access to the Lagos state police in cases of emergency and effective response from Lagos state police command to the yearning of Lagosians. On 10^th December 2010, Adeola commemorated the United Nations Human rights Day during which he empowered Lagosians with 10,000 copies of Nigeria constitution free of charge. The facebook page of ‘KNOW YOUR CONSTITUTION ON UNILAG 103.1 FM’ has about 2,000 fans that email questions almost every day and get their legal questions answered by our team of lawyers!