NOA, Others Partner NHRC On Implementation Of NAP

NOA, Others Partner NHRC On Implementation Of NAP

From Obiorah Anthony Ugwonwa

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other stakeholders drawn from Civil Society Organizations  (CSOs) , Community Based Organizations (CBOs) , Security Agencies and Government Ministries , Departments, Agencies have unanimously expressed their 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 above organizations made their collective decisions known at the Pre-Zonal Consultative Meeting organized on Thursday 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.

In her goodwill message, the State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Awka, Barrister Lady Ifeoma Chijioke, decried the high level of human rights abuse in the country ,and thanked the organizers of the event for deeming it necessary, especially now Nigeria is passing through a 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", the NOA boss said.

She commended the leadership of the Commission for doing a great job in Nigeria, and spoke on the intention of the Agency to collaborating with the Commission to fast track speedy implementation of the National Action Plan for  promotion, protection, and enforcement of human rights in the country.

In his opening remarks,the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Abuja ,Dr Tony Ojujwu (SAN), said that 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.

The Executive Secretary, represented by the Head of Monitoring Department of the Commission in Abuja, Dr. Benedict Agu ,noted that in line with the declaration, Nigeria adopted its first National Action Plan for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in (2009-2013) which served as a 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",he said.

He added that the event will  further allow them 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.

From him, the Anambra State Co-ordinator of the Commission, Mr Obinna Maduforo, who spoke on the objectives of the meeting, noted that 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 National Action Plan 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 overview of the( NAP) , the Ebonyi State Co-ordinator of the Commission, Mr Onyekachi Okorie, maintained that people violent 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 bearest minimum.

Taking the participants on the Roles of MDAs, and CSOs ,among others on all-round implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), the Head of the Monitoring Department of the Commission in Abuja, Dr Benedict Agu , identified NOA , MDAs ,CBOs, CSOs, as the front line organizations for implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) geared towards promotion, protection ,and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.

He added that the Civil Society Organizations should mobilize Nigerians and educate the on their rights about the proposed 2027 elections in the country , identifying 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  the National Council for Women's Societies and the PRO, Nigerian Correctional Service , Anambra State,CSC Francis Ekezie, stressed that the event reflected  the collective efforts of all in assuring thorough respect of human rights in Nigeria.

General interactions and discussions by the participants as well as questions and answers , added glamour to the event.