Be the Advocate for Change

Join us in making justice and opportunity accessible to everyone in need.

St Ivo Foundation Inc, is named after Saint Ivo Kermartin. St. Ivo (Yves) (priest and lawyer) was born at Kermartin, near Tréguier, Brittany in 1253. Ivo studied civil law at the University of Paris and was parish priest of the parish of Tredrez. As a priest- lawyer, he was a champion of the downtrodden and this won him the name, ‘the poor man’s advocate. He defended the poor in the church court and also served as their attorney in civil-court ...

What We Do

01.

— LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF INMATES

Awaiting Trial Persons account for almost 72% of the total prison population in many sub-Saharan nations and are considered to be the major cause of Prison over population. Sadly, many of these persons are victims of social injustice in the society. A good example are those who were arrested without any just cause and being unable to sort their way out of the police stations are thrown into jail with no one to come to their aid.

02.

— ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

With the current wave of violence, insecurity and crime in within the region, the most vulnerable communities are those with a high number of individuals and families with little or no means of livelihood. It is of utmost importance for the Ivo Foundation to focus on empowering individuals especially those from ‘at risk’ communities with scholarships at the various stages of school including elementary, middle, high school and college/university. Ivo Foundation will pay particular attention to indigents who are in school already but are faced with the risk of dropping out of school because their sponsors are unable to continue with their sponsorship.

03.

— RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR CHILDREN OF PRISON INMATES

Parental incarceration has far-reaching implications for the parents, the children, and the community. For the incarcerated parent, the child’s security and welfare is a source of constant anxiety and guilt because of the life he or she believes his or her actions have deprived the child. For the community, since children are very impressionable and can be easily influenced by prevailing negative influences in prison particularly from hardened and unrepentant convicts, this creates a pattern of uneducated and unemployable adults susceptible to criminal behaviour.

From Despair to Freedom: Chibueze Agu’s Journey to Justice

CHIBUEZE AGU has been in Onitsha Prisons since May 2010 on the allegation that he was involved in the kidnapping of his master. He became a suspect just because he did not take to his heels when the kidnappers came for his master and that the kidnappers did not harm him. He was charged with another defendant who was long ago granted bail by the Chief Judge during a jail delivery exercise ...

Justice Restored: Olaolu Okeowo's Triumph Over False Accusation

OLAOLU OKEOWO was falsely arraigned on three-count charges of conspiracy, assault and stealing of a police officer mobile phone. He had gone for prayers, that is, night vigil and was on his way back in the early hours of the morning when he was arrested because he did not ‘play ball’ at the police instance and thus was declared a ‘stubborn’ young man. Our team met up with him at the Ikoyi prison and decided to give him free legal aid. On the next adjourned date ...

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Building a World Where No One Is Left Behind

Together, we can create a future where justice and compassion thrive.