The head of the NHRC Ojukwu takes on the leadership of the Human Rights Network of West Africa

The head of the NHRC Ojukwu takes on the leadership of the Human Rights Network of West Africa

The head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu (San) has taken on the leadership of the network of national institutions for human rights in West Africa (NNHRI-WA). He was elected president of Nnhri-Wa during the closing session of a regional consultation of three days of the network.

The three -day regional consultation of the network that took place on Thursday 3 July 2025, in Abuja, marked the end of the mandate of the predecessor of Dr. Ojukwu, Dr. Joseph Whittal of Ghana, who has been president for six years.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ojukwu has undertaken to strengthen cooperation between western African countries to advance the promotion and protection of human rights. He outlined his vision for the network, which includes the construction of the ability of national institutions for human rights (NHRI) to effectively respond to challenges relating to resources, governance and operations. He also announced his intention to establish a sub-regional situation situation and a data center to improve monitoring, documentation and reporting of human rights throughout West Africa.

“My vision for this network is anchored to respect and cooperation to promote and protect human rights in West Africa,” he said.

Dr. Ojukwu has also underlined his commitment to promote partnerships with the Ecowas institutions, the United Nations, the media and the civil society organizations.

Other new elected officials of the network include Amsatou Sow Sidibe (Senegal) as Vice President; Charles Harris (Liberia) as a treasurer; Serge Prince (Benin) as general secretary; Alkadri Diarra (Mali) as a secretary I; Patricia Ndanema (Sierra Leone) as secretary II; and Fernanda Maria Da Costa (Guinea-Bissau) as a secretary III.

The regional consultation brought together the delegates of 12 countries in West Africa, the Ecowas Commission, the UNIVER COMMISSARY OF THE United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights in West Africa (Ohchr-Waro) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS).

“Justice for Africans and people of African origin through repairs: the role of national institutions for human rights”, the event focused on collective efforts towards justice and repairs.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the prosecutor General of the Nigeria of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, San, praised delegates for their dedication to advance the justice department. He observed that the theme did not only concern the past but also the formation of a better future for Africans and people of African origin.

During the three -day resolutions, the delegates asked for the restoration of NHRI in countries currently under military domain, including Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea. Following military acquisitions in these countries and their subsequent withdrawal from Ecowa to form the alliance of the States of Sahel (adverse events), the participants underlined the importance of the continuous commitment for human rights in the region.

Other key discussions have focused on the encouragement of the Member States to adopt alternatives to detention, urging EcoWas to accelerate the development and adoption of the Ecowas transition justice manual to guide the states in facing past and present injustices, promote reconciliation and guarantee sustainable development.

At the end of the consultation, the participants reiterated their commitment to protect the rights of migrants, increase the defense of climate change, harmonize the national collection of data on human rights violations and support national governments to carry out their economic responsibilities.

They also invited governments to create enabling environments that promote dignified work, they relieve poverty and improve living conditions, thus reducing the incidence of migration guided from an economic point of view in the sapper.