NHRC Marches On Abuja Streets To Promote Respect For Human Rights, Solicits Fund

The National Human Rights Commission marched through the streets of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Tuesday to highlight the country’s respect for human rights and to support the Human Rights Fund, which remains unfunded.

Dr. Salamatu Suleiman, Chairman, and Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, are leading the road campaign from Eagle Square in the Central Area to the National Human Rights Commission’s headquarters on Aguiyi Ironsi Way in Maitama.

The NHRC and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) organized the road walk, which was funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). The marchers carried placards with inscriptions to promote the need for Nigerians to respect their human rights.

The placard inscriptions read: “Stand for equality, fight for humanity,” and “Human rights are universal rights.” Let us protect them, ‘Human rights have no borders,’ and ‘Break the chains of inequality, advance human rights,’ among other phrases.

Ojukwu emphasized that Nigerians must recognize that protecting human rights is a shared responsibility that extends beyond government efforts.

He thanked RoLAC for its invaluable assistance, which helped ensure the program’s success.

He stated, “We need resources because all of these things cannot be accomplished without them. The government is making an effort, but they can do so much better and more. It is also important to recognize that the government is not the only entity capable of addressing human rights violations.

“Private individuals and companies can also donate. They can donate equipment instead of cash. They can donate computers, they can donate laptops, they can donate vehicles. They can donate facilities, tables, chairs, and other items, which all help.

“So we urge Nigerians to see addressing Nigerians’ rights as a shared problem, not solely the responsibility of the government. Nobody has donated one naira to the Human Rights Fund. Why can not we have a lot of private individuals in this country who can afford to donate M100 million and it will not bother them?

“And they will be pleased with the number of displaced persons, the number of people begging on the streets, the number of children who are unable to attend school, the number of women evicted from their homes, and the number of children wandering the streets with no shelter. All of this is visible when you look at the dashboard every month and see how many children have been abandoned because their parents are no longer able to fulfil their responsibilities.”

Dr Salamatu Suleiman, Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, stated that Human Rights Day should be celebrated daily rather than just one day.

She stated that out-of-school children must be prioritized, emphasizing that educating them will eliminate social vices.

Every year on December 10, International Human Rights Day commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It is the culmination of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began on November 25.