DWF

Giving Them A Second Chance At Life

We are a voice to the voiceless

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Improve Welfare For Detainees

Rebuilding lives for the future

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Four Initiatives That Transform

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Thousands Behind
Bars Nationwide

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Hope Renewed

About Detainees’ Welfare Foundation

Detainees’ Welfare Foundation (DWF) is a non-profit, non-political, philanthropic-oriented organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2005. Our goal is to improve the welfare of detainees through comprehensive legal support and advocacy.

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our volunteers

Aims & Objectives

Clear standards that guide our intervention and ensure support reaches those who need it most

Welfare & Rehabilitation Advancement

To ensure the implementation of welfare and rehabilitation programmes for detainees and prisons in collaboration with the relevant government agencies within the community and the nation at large.

Strategic Government & Stakeholder Collaboration

To Liaise with the government and support the implementation of commitments made by government, the private sector and other agencies towards the enhancement of the welfare of detainees within the community and throughout the nation

Mission

Vision

Values

Reducing Injustice Daily

Justice. Dignity. Reintegration.

Our mission is to reduce injustice, provide legal aid, whilst ensuring the dignity of the accused, and creating pathways for reintegration — one case at a time.

950

Inmates need help

650

Inmates RELEASED

920

Inmates REPRESENTED

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Justice For All

Dignity. Access. Reintegration.

To ensure that every detainee in Nigeria has access to justice, dignity, and the opportunity for reintegration.
We envision a society where no one is forgotten behind bars Where legal support, rehabilitation, and second chances are not privileges, but rights.

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Redemption

Justice. Dignity. Reintegration

Providing legal aid, defending fundamental rights, and empowering individuals to rebuild their lives with confidence.

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We Help across Nigeria

Our Threshold Criteria

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LEGAL MERIT

Cases with the likelihood of success in court. (E.g. No Case Submissions). Minor Offense and Misdemeanour Cases Cases with strong legal defence arguments.

VUNERABILITY

Elderly Offenders ( 45 – 80 Years Old) Young Offenders ( 18 – 25 Years Old) Offenders with Disabilities illiterate Offenders (English not first language) Length of Pre-trail Detention (6months, upwards)

SEVERITY OF OFFENSE

Offenses within Magistrate Courts Jurisdiction Nature of Offense (Non- violent offenses) First time Offenders Minimal flight risk offenders

INNOCENCE/WRONGFUL ACCUSATION

Innocent but need legal representation to prove matter in court Wrongful Accusation by co-offender/witness Offender has witness/evidence/alibi to prove innocence

testimonials

What People Say About Our Work

Real stories of justice restored, dignity upheld, and lives transformed.

all testimonials

My name is Isah Mohammed. I was locked up for over eight months for a family issue. It was a painful experience for me. DWF stood for me and
helped me regain my freedom. I am grateful and I pray God will bless their
work.

Isah Mohammed

Kuje Prison

Working at the Detainees Welfare Foundation has been deeply eye opening.
It has exposed me to the realities of Nigeria while revealing the humanity,
empathy, and resilience that bind us as a people. This journey has been truly
memorable, and I look forward to contributing to even more impactful change.

Hajara Umar Nataala

VOLUNTEER

My name is Sadiq Lawal. I was in Kuje Prison for almost two years because of
a misunderstanding. My friend told me to keep a power bank for him that I did
not know was stolen. Life inside was very hard and frustrating. When DWF
came, it was like God remembered me. They helped process my bail and

followed everything up. Today, I am free and very grateful. May God bless the
DWF team for remembering people like us.