The Lagos State Government has taken a significant step towards enhancing legal accessibility and public understanding by deciding to translate existing state laws from English into Yoruba. This initiative, spearheaded by the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, aims to bridge the language gap and ensure that more residents can comprehend and comply with the laws governing them.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, Mrs. Umul-Kulthum Ninilomo Bashar, emphasized that this project is not just about language but about empowerment. “For too long, language barriers have led to misunderstandings and non-compliance, making law enforcement more costly and creating friction between the government and its people,” she stated. By translating laws into Yoruba, the government hopes to foster greater voluntary compliance and reduce enforcement costs.
The translation process will leverage OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. This technological integration is expected to set a new standard for legal reforms in Nigeria, combining modern AI capabilities with the cultural realities of Lagos residents.
Mrs. Adejoke Deborah Olajide, the Yoruba language consultant for the Lagos State House of Assembly, highlighted the cultural importance of this initiative. “Yoruba is the native language of a significant portion of the population, and this translation project will allow more people to understand the laws that govern them,” she explained. This effort is also seen as a step towards preserving the linguistic heritage of the Yoruba people for future generations.
The project aims to translate at least 70 laws annually and create a digital library of Lagos State laws in Yoruba. Additionally, there are plans to incorporate the Ogu language into the law reforms, further broadening the initiative’s reach.
The announcement has been met with widespread approval from various stakeholders, including legal practitioners, community leaders, and the general public. Many believe that this initiative will significantly improve public confidence in the government and enhance the relationship between citizens and the state.
