The announcement was made on Thursday at a press briefing held at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos.
The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) has unveiled plans for the 16th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture alongside the national launch of a major civic accountability initiative, the Civil Justice Legacy Project (CJLP).
The announcement was made on Thursday at a press briefing held at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Comrade Agunbiade Babatunde, Chairman of the GAFAMORG Governing Council, said the initiative aims to place “justice, memory and citizen power at the centre of public life” at a time Nigeria faces deepening concerns over impunity, mass killings and declining public trust in state institutions.
The Memorial Lecture and official launch of the CJLP will take place on 18 December 2025 at the NuruDeen Alao Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.
GAFAMORG described the Civil Justice Legacy Project as a “long-term, citizen-led platform” designed to strengthen accountability mechanisms and protect the vulnerable.
The organisation said Nigeria is “grieving too many preventable deaths” and that public institutions have failed to respond adequately to widespread extrajudicial killings, mob violence and institutional negligence.
It said Civil Justice Tracker (CJT) is a public tool for recording and monitoring rights violations and institutional responses.
Also, Citizen Auditor Network (CAN) is a corps of trained community auditors who will regularly monitor police stations, courts and detention facilities.
It said Gani Fawehinmi Youth Civil Fellowship is a national programme to train young lawyers, journalists and civic advocates.
Also, ACJA/ACJL Simplification Project: is a plain-language and multimedia versions of key justice laws translated into major Nigerian languages.
The pilot phase will take place in Kaduna and Lagos, selected to reflect contrasting environments, Kaduna for conflict accountability and Lagos for scalable urban justice reforms.
In one of the most significant proposals unveiled, GAFAMORG formally declared September 5 as the National Civil Day of Remembrance for Victims of Mass Killings, Extrajudicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity.
The organisation called on federal and state governments, civil society groups, religious leaders, the private sector and the media to adopt and observe the date nationwide.
Key proposals for the annual observance include, official government endorsement of 5 September as a national day of remembrance, and one-minute silence at noon every 5 September.
Others are wearing an Emblem of Remembrance, which GAFAMORG will distribute, and nationwide activities highlighting solutions to mass violence and justice reform.
“This is not only an act of memory, it is an act of accountability,” the statement read. “To never forget, to demand justice, and to end the atrocious killings that plague our communities.”
As part of the CJLP, GAFAMORG said it will publish a Roll of Honour documenting victims of mass killings, extrajudicial executions and mob violence.
A partial unveiling will be shared with accredited editors in a closed briefing.
The organisation said each entry is carefully verified and subject to consent and privacy protocols.
“The Roll is a humanitarian and legal record aimed at securing accountability and reparative remedy, not a political instrument,” GAFAMORG stressed, urging journalists to report responsibly and safeguard victims’ dignity.
GAFAMORG urged federal and state governments to support the CJLP and adopt the National Civil Day of Remembrance.
It also called on judicial and security agencies to engage with the project’s research and data-gathering mechanisms.
The organisation encouraged civil society groups and the media to expand investigative reporting, protect sources and amplify verified evidence.
It asked donors, foundations and corporate partners to fund the project’s technology development, legal literacy initiatives and fellowship programme.
The organisation said a full list of partners will be released at the 18 December event.
It noted that this year’s memorial lecture will bring together senior jurists, human rights activists and scholars.
Those listed include: Femi Falana (SAN) as Chair of Occasion, Dr. Osagie Obayuwama as Keynote Speaker, Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe, Affiong Affiong, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), and others as speakers.