NOA, Others Partner NHRC on Implementation of National Action Plan on Rights’ Protection, Enforcement

By Praise Chinecherem

National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other stakeholders have expressed readiness to partner National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on implementation of her National Action Plan for promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria (2024 -2028).

The stakeholders gave the assurance at the Pre-Zonal Consultative Meeting organized in Awka by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with MDAs, CBOs, CSOs and NGOs on the National Action Plan (NAP) for the promotion, protection and enforcement of the Human Rights in Nigeria, come 2024-2028.

The organizations included Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Security Agencies and Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Speaking during the meeting, State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Awka, Barr Lady Ifeoma Chijioke, decried high level of human rights abuse in the country and thanked the organizers for deeming it necessary, especially now Nigeria is passing through lot of tribulations as a result of human rights violence.

“When I heard about the consultative meeting, I was overwhelmed, and decided that I must come”, she said.

The NOA boss commended the leadership of the Commission for doing a great job in Nigeria, pledging the Agency’s readiness to collaborate with the Commission to fast track speedy implementation of the National Action Plan for promotion, protection, and enforcement of human rights in the country.

Earlier, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Abuja, Dr Tony Ojujwu (SAN), said the National Action Plan (NAP) is a 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.

Ojujwu, 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 the ( NAP) 2009-2013 plan,the National Human Rights Commission championed and led a decade -long consultative process involving a wide-range of stakeholders.

“The event will further allow us to strengthen synergy between Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Civil Society Organizations (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, Mr Obinna Maduforo said the event was aimed at strengthening the stakeholders’ engagement and contributions for effective implementation of the National Action Plan (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.

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, calling 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, Judith Chukwu Anambra State Commander, (NAPTIP ) lauded the tireless efforts of the Commission in promotion and protection of people’s rights in the country.

Others who also spoke included Mrs Ijioma 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 the collective efforts of all in assuring thorough respect of human rights in Nigeria.