Emma Elekwa
National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other stakeholders have expressed readiness to partner National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on implementation of its National Action Plan (NAP) for promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria (2024 -2028).
The stakeholders gave the assurance in Awka, Anambra state at the Pre-Zonal Consultative Meeting organized by (NHRC) in partnership with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Security Agencies.
Speaking during the meeting, State Director, NOA in Awka, Mrs Ifeoma Chijioke, decried high level of human rights abuse in the country and thanked the organizers for the engagement, especially now Nigeria is passing through lot of tribulations following human rights violence.
She commended the Commission’s leadership for the great job they’re doing, pledging NOA’s readiness to collaborate with her to fast-track NAP speedy implementation for human rights promotion, protection and enforcement in the country.
Earlier, Executive Secretary NHRC, Abuja, Dr Tony Ojukwu (SAN) described NAP as guiding document for promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria in line with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria in 1993.
Adoption of first NAP
Ojukwu, represented by the Head of Monitoring Department of the Commission in Abuja, Dr. Benedict Agu explained that Nigeria adopted its first NAP for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in (2009-2013) in line with the declaration, which served as framework to implement Nigeria’s international human rights commitments and guide coordinated action across government institutions in the country.
“Following the expiration of NAP 2009-2013 plan, the NHRC championed and led a decade -long consultative process involving a wide-range of stakeholders.
“The event will further allow us to strengthen synergy between MDAs and CSOs to recognize that sustainable human rights protection can only be achieved through coordinated and all-inclusive action in Nigeria,” he added.
Anambra State Co-ordinator of the Commission, Obinna Maduforo said the event was aimed at strengthening the stakeholders’ engagement and contributions for effective implementation of NAP 2024-2028 through inclusive consultation and alignment.
“We need to strategize because there are evils on ground. The NAP was put in place by government for promotion and protection of human rights and we can not do it alone, hence our collaboration with NOA , MDAs, CSOs, CBOs, to achieve better results,” he noted.
Violation in ignorance
Highlighting the NAP overview, Ebonyi State Co-ordinator of the Commission, Onyekachi Okorie maintained that people violate human rights on daily basis without knowing it.
He called on all and sundry to be part of the nationwide awareness creation by the Commission with a view to bringing the issue of human rights abuse in the country to barest minimum.
Taking the participants on the Roles of MDAs, and CSOs among others on all-round implementation of the NAP, Head of the Monitoring Department of the Commission in Abuja, Dr Benedict Agu listed NOA, MDAs, CBOs, CSOs, as the front line organizations for implementation of the NAP geared towards promotion, protection, and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.
While charging CSOs to mobilize Nigerians and educate them on their rights about the proposed 2027 elections in the country, Agu identified moral rearmament as only answer to the nagging problems confronting Nigeria over the years.
In their separate speeches, Dr.Obiageli Uchebo of Anambra State Ministry of Health, Chioma Ezechukwu of Ministry Women and Social Welfare, Basil Iloegbunam of Education, Ibadin Judith-Chukwu Anambra State Commander, NAPTIP lauded the Commission’s tireless efforts in promotion and protection of people’s rights in the country.
Others who also spoke included Mrs Eucharia Anekwe, State Co-ordinator Child Protection Network (CPN), Mrs Anene Allison of National Council for Women’s Societies and the PRO, State Nigerian Correctional Service, Francis Ekezie said the event reflected collective efforts of all in assuring thorough respect of human rights in Nigeria.
