With the pandemic upending millions of lives, Esusu set up a rent relief fund last year, providing zero interest loans to help users who have lost jobs avoid eviction.
From the United States to Britain, Black and ethnic minorities have suffered disproportionately high rates of illness, death and income loss during the pandemic. Ashley Edwards, CEO of MindRight Health, in a photo taken in 2020. | Courtesy of Ashley Edwards
The Black Lives Matter protests, which swept the world last summer, have also heightened scrutiny of systemic racism.
Ashley Edwards is another young Black social entrepreneur using tech to address social justice.
COVID is a wake-up call : Black entrepreneurs aim to level playing field nationalpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nationalpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Will the provision of free legal services impact lives and the economy at large?
Pro bono is short for “Pro bono Publico” a Latin phrase that means “for the public good”. It is a term often used in the description of the provision of free legal services by lawyers to the people who may need such services and are unable to afford them.
The ability to gain access to justice and legal counsel is the bedrock of a functional society. In Nigeria, access to justice and legal counsel remains evasive, especially among the uneducated, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and small-scale business owners. Asides from the lack of legal counseling and representation, there is little or no understanding of their legal rights. Also listed among some challenges are the high costs for legal services, which could be a little above what the average Nigerian can afford.