The Lagos State Government has announced its plan to translate existing state laws from English into Yoruba to enhance accessibility and comprehension.
This is aimed at enabling understanding and compliance with state laws among the Yoruba-speaking population in Lagos and beyond.
This announcement was made during a one-day Stakeholdersโ Meeting held in Ikeja, which focused on the Peopleโs Perception Survey regarding the Translation of Lagos State Laws into Yoruba. The event was organised by the Law Reform Commission in partnership with the Lagos Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.
The project will utilize OpenAIโs GPT-4 technology for the translation process.
According to Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, Mrs. Umul-Kulthum Ninilomo Bashar, this translation effort goes beyond language accessibility; it is also about empowering citizens by making laws available in their mother tongue.
Bashar described the initiative as a groundbreaking approach to legal reform, blending the latest AI technology with the cultural realities of the residents. She noted that the project aims to translate at least 70 laws annually, create a digital library of Lagos State laws in Yoruba, and set a new standard for other states to follow. She added that plans are in place to incorporate the Ogu language into future law reforms, following the Yoruba translations.
Bashar also highlighted that the initiative will bolster public confidence in the government and lead to the development of an AI-compliant, interactive website that enhances the stateโs legal framework. Besides increasing legal literacy, the project is expected to foster a stronger relationship between the government and its citizens.
โFor 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,โ she said.
She assured attendees that the project would significantly reduce enforcement costs and encourage greater voluntary compliance by addressing language barriers.
Yoruba Consultant for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Adejoke Deborah Olajide, also spoke at the event. She emphasized the cultural significance of translating laws into Yoruba, stating that language plays a crucial role in understanding the legal framework and ensuring citizen participation in governance.
โYoruba 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. This initiative will bridge the gap between legal jargon and the everyday language spoken by the majority,โ Olajide stated.
She further highlighted that this effort is not only about improving legal comprehension but also about preserving Yoruba language heritage for future generations.
The initiative is expected to set a precedent for other states by promoting a more inclusive and culturally sensitive legal environment.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Hamzat Azeez, explained that the initiative aims to disseminate legal knowledge to the grassroots. He stressed that residents need to understand the governmentโs intentions and the laws that affect them, as ignorance is no excuse in law. Translating laws into native languages is crucial for better awareness and compliance, he said.
The event was attended by community representatives from across the state, who were divided into strategic groups to interact with the public, gather feedback, and raise awareness about the initiative to translate laws into Yoruba.