By Olukayode Idowu
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu has said Nigeria’s human rights violations reporting has received global commendation.
Ojukwu made this known during the 4th edition of the monthly dashboard on human rights held at the Commission’s headquarters at the weekend, where he emphasized Nigeria’s significant role in the global discourse on human rights.
The Executive Secretary, who just arrived from Geneva, Switzerland after the just concluded Annual General Meeting of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) said: “All eyes and ears were on Nigeria when we were sharing our experiences.”
Ojukwu, while highlighting the attention drawn by the Commission’s reports, said the Commission has been vocal on violations of human rights issues, adding that: “Everyone is impressed with the report emanating from the dashboard and the international community awaits the monthly report that we make public.”
Ojukwu extended gratitude to the media for their pivotal role in disseminating these reports to the public. He emphasized that the dashboard serves not only to illustrate the human rights situation but also as a gauge of progress towards realizing the rights of all individuals in Nigeria.
However, in the presentation of the April dashboard, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the Executive Secretary, highlighted a concerning rise in human rights violation recorded in April. He cited instances of mass killings, attacks on press freedom and unlawful detention of journalists, violence against children, cultism and the impact of economic reforms on the enjoyment of human rights.
The monthly dashboard, Ogbonna emphasized is integral to the Commission’s mandate of real-time monitoring, investigation, and reporting on human rights nationwide.
Also speaking at the event was the Project Officer Rule of Law on Human Rights with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Nkechi Enubiaka, who said “as we continue our journey towards a just and equitable Nigeria, we remain grateful for the invaluable partnership with the NHRC and look forward to further strengthening of our collaboration for the advancement of human rights and sustainable development.”
On her part, Political and Development Adviser of the Royal Norwegian Embassy,
Queen Esther Iroanusi,, urged the Commission to not only document violations but also address the challenges encountered in fulfilling their mandate.
