The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Ojukwu Esq. on Wednesday declared that the Oyo state office of the commission had since its creation in February, received about 115 complaints on human rights violation which it had handled using human rights-based approach.
Ojukwu who was represented by the Oyo state coordinator of the NHRC, Oyindamola Bamgbose Esq. made this known while speaking at the maiden edition of the Oyo State Human Rights Stakeholders Summit which held at the American Corner Jericho, Ibadan.
He explained that the issue of low financing is a major challenge to fighting for the sustenance of human rights adding that the situation has changed for the better with the increment of the commission’s budget by the Federal Government.
The summit organised by the NHRC and themed, ‘State of human rights in Oyo state’ brought together relevant stakeholders in the promotion and protection of human rights in Oyo state to facilitate a system approach that will address human right violation issues within the state after exploring a broad range of issues around human rights as it relates to their work.
In his keynote address, the Head of Communication and Language Arts Department, University of Ibadan, Prof Ayo Ojebode, stated that though there aren’t enough statistics to examine the rate of right violation in Oyo state, there are instances that could be cited, adding that stakeholders have a role to play in promoting human rights .
According to him, human rights are indivisible, universal as well as interdependent and for every individual that has fundamental rights, there are also obligations because in expressing individual rights, one is not allowed to infringe on other peoples’ rights.
Prof Ojebode stated that the government cannot be left alone to promote and uphold human rights, reiterating the importance of each individual playing its role.
“Schools should teach children the basics of human rights, create debate platforms for them to learn and argue about human rights, teachers and school management must be a model of promoting human rights because children do not listen to what we say, they watch what we do. Also, there must be the engagement of neighbourhood associations, mobile human rights advocacy and media engagements,” he stated.
There were three-panel discussions during the summit; civil and political rights panel which had the General Officer Commanding of the 2Division of the Nigerian Army represented by Brigadier General K.O. Ozewenge, the Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Friday Ebelo and representatives of the Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Directorate of State Service as panellists.
Ebelo urged parents to inculcate good moral values into their children while the anchor of the second session, Edem Ossai urged the government to be proactive in giving information to the people.
There was also a panel on economic, social and cultural rights with the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, barrister Rahman Abdulraheem; representative of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and social inclusion and a representative of the Federal Road Safety Corp as panellists. There was the last session on women, children and vulnerable groups
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