Citizen's Gavel

Nelson founded Citizen’s Gavel, a non-profit organisation expediting access to justice delivery in Nigeria through the use of digital technology. Citizen’s Gavel connects victims with local volunteer lawyers for pro-bono legal support in an accessible and affordable way. Its work expands beyond solving cases for victims; Nelson and his team are also active advocates for legislative changes and policy reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. Nelson was a co-lead and co-strategist of the #ENDSARS movement against police brutality, securing a presidential directive to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Nelson attended the One Young World Summits in London, 2019 and Manchester, 2022. He was a Delegate Speaker in London - the first time he had a global spotlight on his work - and a panel speaker at Manchester, which helped him build a network of support for the expansion of Citizen’s Gavel into the UK. As a Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Scholar, Nelson connected with the Dutch Embassy and has received support from them as he continues to scale Citizen’s Gavel.

The organisation’s network of lawyers has 260 volunteers across Nigeria. Citizen’s Gavel has facilitated the solving of 5,000 cases, including 400 involving gender-based violence. It also provides legal education, onsite sensitisation, and on-the-spot legal advice across rural areas. Citizen’s Gavel has conducted training sessions for Nigeria’s National Judicial Council, for which it developed a case management software to support judicial efficiency, and the Ministry of Justice. As part of its UK expansion, it aims to provide online legal education for migrants on British common law.

“I was supported to attend One Young World by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it actually spotlighted my work to the Netherlands Embassy as well. A lot of support and opportunities have been shared with me through the Netherlands Embassy. This wouldn't have happened without One Young World.”