Comfort Usman Kariko is a Lawyer with years of impactful experience in the development sector in areas of Health, Human rights and Criminal justice reforms. She was called into the Nigerian Bar in 2020 and possesses a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Jos, Plateau state Nigeria. She is trained in Advocacy, Project management, Fundraising, Monitoring and Evaluation, Child’s rights protection, Effective engagement of Civil society in Development and is a certified United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Peace mediator.

She is currently a Program Assistant at Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, Kano office and has been instrumental in the release of indigent Pretrial detainees through the Public Defenders project of the organization that has concluded over 600 Pro-bono cases within Four years in Kano state. She partook in the review of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Niger state and Bauchi state and the review of the Penal code Law of Bauchi state. In her current position, she offers free legal services to indigents and eng)ges in capacity building and advocacies with the criminal justice actors on the implementation of government policies such as United Nations Resolution 1325, Women Peace and Security Second Generation National Action Plan (NAP 2), Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism National Action Plan (P/CVE NAP), Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law, UN Resolution 2250 amongst others.

She started her career as an Independent Monitor with the World Health Organization and later as a State Monitor with Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency where she monitored the vaccination of children against the Wild Poliovirus in Kaduna state. She identifies as a social crusader and is passionate about promoting the rights of women and youths and their inclusive participation in governance. She is also an advocate of a faith-based approach to development and is a member of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) and currently serves as a Legal Adviser to the Binawa Development Association (BIDA).

Participant in:

November 2021 Fellowship: Climate Change, Gender and Conflict

March 2023 Fellowship: Climate Change, Gender, and Conflict