A Nigerian lawyer, Nehemiah Danjuma, has made history as the first deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria after being called to the Bar, marking the culmination of years of academic excellence and disability rights advocacy.
Nehemiah Danjuma has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming one of Nigeria’s newest lawyers after being called to the Bar, making history as the first deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria.
Originally from Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Danjuma earned a Second Class Upper degree in Common Law from the University of Ilorin before completing the Bar Part II programme at the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School.
Celebrating the achievement on X, he described the moment as a historic one, proudly announcing himself as the first deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria to be called to the Bar.
His success has attracted widespread praise, with many applauding his determination in overcoming the challenges associated with hearing impairment throughout his academic journey.
One of his close friends from the Nigerian Law School, Chukwu Nzubechukwu, revealed that he learned sign language so they could communicate more effectively, saying the experience changed his life and expressing confidence in Danjuma’s bright future in the legal profession.
Danjuma also shared that gaining admission to study Law was not straightforward. In 2017, he was offered admission to study Primary Education Studies instead of Law at the University of Ilorin. Rather than accept the course, he declined the offer and reapplied the following year, eventually securing admission to study Law.
Beyond his academic accomplishments, Danjuma has built an impressive record as a disability rights advocate and youth leader. His professional interests include disability law, human rights, labour law, international law, diplomacy, and the use of assistive technology to promote inclusion.
During his undergraduate years, he represented students with disabilities as a Students’ Union Senator at the University of Ilorin. He later served two terms as National President of the National Association of Nigerian Deaf Students, where he introduced the association’s first national conference, launched its magazine, and received a Long-term Service Award.
His advocacy also earned international recognition. From 2021 to 2024, he served as a Youth Adviser on Human Development with the European Union Youth Sounding Board in Nigeria, contributing to discussions on education, healthcare, and social protection policies affecting young people.
Danjuma was also selected as a Coelho Law Fellow at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he received specialised training in disability rights law and policy.
While at the Nigerian Law School, he completed externships at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, gaining practical experience in legal research, drafting legal documents, and observing court proceedings.
Following his Call to Bar, Danjuma expressed gratitude to the organisations that supported him throughout law school. He appreciated the Voice of Disability Initiative for assisting with the cost of a sign language interpreter and thanked the JASAN Foundation for awarding him a full law school scholarship.
He described the achievement as a proud moment and said he looks forward to making meaningful contributions to the legal profession and society.
Danjuma currently serves as Programmes Lead at the Voice of Disability Initiative, where he oversees advocacy campaigns, community outreach, and projects promoting disability inclusion.
His Call to Bar was part of the Nigerian Law School’s 2026 ceremonies held between July 7 and July 10 in Abuja, during which thousands of new lawyers were admitted into the legal profession. The event also recognised outstanding graduates, with Israel Adekunle Adeniyi emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student for the 2026 Call to Bar.
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