Nehemiah Danjuma has made history as the first deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria, after being called to the Bar during the 2026 Nigerian Law School Call to Bar ceremonies held in Abuja.
Danjuma, who hails from Jaba, Kaduna State, studied Common Law at the University of Ilorin, graduating with a second class upper, before completing his Bar Part II programme at the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School.
He celebrated the milestone in a post on X. "First Deaf Lawyer from Northern Nigeria. Called to the Bar. History made," he wrote.
His journey to the legal profession was not without obstacles.
He revealed that when he first applied to study Law at the University of Ilorin in 2017, he was offered a place in Primary Education Studies instead.
"Waliu was the first Unilorin Law student I contacted when I was seeking admission in 2017.
"We would've been classmates but Unilorin gave me Primary Education Studies. I clicked 'reject' with the speed of light and tried again in 2018," he wrote.
Danjuma's time at the Nigerian Law School also drew admiration from those around him.
His closest friend there, Chukwu Nzubechukwu, said he learnt sign language specifically to communicate with Danjuma rather than rely on written notes.
"My closest friend in NLS Abuja. Had to learn sign language so I could communicate properly with him. Got tired of using notes. Nemmy changed my life!!!!! Congratulations my brooo. Future AGF! God speed on every day my broooo," Nzubechukwu wrote.
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Beyond his academic achievements, Danjuma has built a considerable profile as a disability rights advocate.
He served as Students' Union Senator representing students with disabilities at the University of Ilorin and completed two terms as National President of the National Association of Nigerian Deaf Students (NANDS).
At the time, he organised the association's first national conference in 2023, launched the NANDS Magazine and received a Long-term Service Award.
Between 2021 and 2024, he served as a Youth Adviser on Human Development on the European Union (EU) Youth Sounding Board in Nigeria, advising on education, health and social protection policies affecting young people.
He was also a Coelho Law Fellow at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he received specialised training in disability rights law and policy.
During his Nigerian Law School programme, he completed externships at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), participating in legal research, drafting and court observation.
In a post following his call to the Bar, Danjuma acknowledged those who supported his journey, including the Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), which provided partial support towards a sign language interpreter, and the JASAN Foundation, which awarded him a full tuition scholarship as a JASAN Scholar 2024.
"I'm incredibly proud of this milestone and excited for an impactful career at the Bar and beyond," he wrote.
Danjuma currently serves as Programmes Lead at the Voice of Disability Initiative, where he coordinates advocacy projects, outreach programmes and disability inclusion initiatives.
His call to the Bar came during the 2026 Call to Bar ceremonies held between July 7 and 10 at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, during which thousands of new lawyers were admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
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