DNL Legal and style presents you with all you need to know about the upcoming Innovative Justice event.
Our correspondent had an exclusive interview with Mr. Olufunbi Falayi, the consultant for HiiL innovating justice. He shed more light on the upcoming event.
Can you tell us more about yourself?
I’m Olufunbi Falayi, the West African consultant for Innovating Justice accelerator. Innovating justice accelerator helps bring together entrepreneurs who are trying to create access to Justice. Access to Justice is not just law; law is just a subset of justice. Justice can be interpreted in various ways; it could be a way of creating legal access to all, it could also be a form of making it easier for people to access classified information from the government in order to fight competition. It could also be an avenue to reduce domestic violence.
Can you tell us more about Hiil SME Empowerment and Family Justice Competition?
The innovating Justice is established to work with motivated youths. We give them the support structure to get a job done. For example, last year we did a call to entrepreneurs in East Africa and West Africa. These entrepreneurs came up with great business ideas encouraging SMEs. At the event, we introduced programs like BIY Law which allow SMEs to register their business with ease. It made legal procedures effective. For instance, it takes about 2months to register business in this country but with BIY Law, it is very easy to register your business within one to two weeks.
We also introduced BudgIT which is a program that make it easy for citizens of Nigeria to know how government spends public funds across all sectors. This program aims at reducing corruption.
This year, we have two teams which are SMEs empowerment and Family Justice. We have over 400 applicants which were narrowed. This event will take place across 6 cities Tunisia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Nairobi and Rwanda. We will provide the finalist with all sort of support including cash. Also, they have access to relevant partners within their chosen field. This will allow them to be effective in creating justice to their target audience.
The Event is schedule for 6 countries, Are they coming up same day?
Oh! No, Just on Friday, 24th of September those for Nairobi and Kampala were held. On Monday, Johannesburg did theirs and on Thursday 29th of September, Lagos version will hold.
What should candidates expect?
Candidates have been drilling for the pitch and on the 29th of September, the foreign candidate will be arrive Nigeria. On Thursday, they will be pitching in front of great lawyers, business consultant, successful entrepreneurs who would listen to their pitches and select final successful candidate. The successful ones will therefore proceed to Netherland for a week intensive training and attend the final stage of the completion.
Can we know the Judges?
We have Ope Olugasa (CEO, Law Pavilion), Akingbolahan Adeniran (Rule of Law Advisor, Office of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Afua Osei (Co-Founder, SHE LEADS AFRICA), Wale Ajiboye (Acumen Fund Fellow), Shade Ladipo (Executive Director Nigeria, WeConnect International).
Who are the panelists?
The panel discussion is called Justice Innovation of perfect investment. On the panel list, we have Seun Onigbinde (Co- Founder, BudgIT), Titilayo VIvour-Adeniyi (Coordinator, Domestic & Sexual Violence Response Team DSVRT, Lagos State Ministry of Justice), Damilola Thompson (Legal Counsel, ECHO-VC), and Inaingo Ogufere (Author- Battered Roses).
What do attendees stand to gain?
Wow!!! It’s interesting that over 60% of this year’s applicants were last year’s attendees. They got super motivated by what young people are doing. The popular adage “Only Africans can solve Africans’ problems”. We believe that youths have the courage to solve problems faced daily. A lot of people want to solve problems but don’t know what to do. Hence, the need for this event because attendees will be super motivated. It’s also an avenue to meet people who are doing pretty well in their chosen fields. Thanks
When is the final competition?
This will take place on December 2nd, 2016 Hague, Netherland. The finalist will be invited for a week long intensive training which will end with the final global completion where the top three will be selected.
Thanks for your time.
You are welcome. The registration link is still open. You can register via www.innovatingjustice.com
Interviewed by Titilayo Olusegun
Send your press release/articles to:
info@dnllegalandstyle.com ,Follow us on Twitter at @dnlpartners and Facebook at Facebook.com/Dnl-partners