Lagos State To Translate Laws Into Yoruba For Better Accessibility And Compliance

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to translate its existing laws from English into Yoruba, aiming to improve accessibility and understanding for the Yoruba-speaking population within the state and beyond. This initiative seeks to ensure that more residents can easily comprehend and comply with state laws.

The announcement was made at a one-day Stakeholders’ Meeting in Ikeja, focused on a People’s Perception Survey regarding the translation of Lagos State laws into Yoruba. Organized by the Lagos State Law Reform Commission in collaboration with the Lagos Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, the meeting outlined the state’s vision for making legal information more accessible to non-English speakers.

Mrs. Umul-Kulthum Ninilomo Bashar, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, emphasized that the translation project is a groundbreaking legal reform effort aimed at empowering citizens. She explained that translating laws into the Yoruba language would help citizens better understand the legal framework governing their daily lives.

“This initiative is about more than just language. It is about empowering our people by giving them access to the laws that affect their lives in a language they fully understand,” Bashar said. She added that the project will make use of OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology to ensure accurate and efficient translation of legal texts.

The initiative aims to translate at least 70 laws annually, create a digital library of Lagos State laws in Yoruba, and set a precedent for other states to follow. Additionally, plans are in place to incorporate translations into the Ogu language in future phases of the project.

The project is expected to not only improve legal literacy but also bolster public trust in government. “For too long, language barriers have caused misunderstandings and non-compliance, leading to costly law enforcement efforts. By addressing these barriers, we can encourage greater voluntary compliance with the law,” Bashar said.

Mrs. Adejoke Deborah Olajide, Yoruba Consultant for the Lagos State House of Assembly, also underscored the cultural importance of translating laws into Yoruba. She noted that language plays a vital role in ensuring citizen participation in governance, making the legal system more inclusive.

“By translating our laws into Yoruba, we are bridging the gap between complex legal terminology and the everyday language spoken by the majority of our people,” Olajide remarked. She also highlighted the broader goal of preserving the Yoruba language for future generations.

The Chairman of the Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Hamzat Azeez, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of spreading legal knowledge to the grassroots. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse, and by translating laws into native languages, we make it easier for residents to understand their rights and responsibilities,” Azeez stated.

The project is expected to reduce enforcement costs and foster a stronger relationship between the government and its citizens. It will also pave the way for other states to adopt similar reforms, promoting a more culturally inclusive legal system across Nigeria.

Community representatives from across Lagos attended the event and were divided into strategic groups to gather public feedback and raise awareness about the initiative. The translation project is anticipated to transform how laws are understood and applied at the grassroots level, fostering a more informed and legally literate society.