Nigeria, India sign MOU on human rights promotion

Nigeria's NHRC and Indian delegation after a close door meeting with the CJN at the Supreme Court on Monday

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria and its Indian counterpart signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Tony Ojukwu, the NHRC’s executive secretary, said the MOU will enable Nigeria and India to share best practices because of their similarities.

According to Mr Ojukwu, the partnership will also expand Nigeria’s NHRC’s knowledge and contributions to the global community.

“This MOU provides a framework for cooperation between countries, in areas including gender-based learning and life practices, capacity building, joint research and mobilisation, and engagement on regional and international human rights issues.

“It also brings opportunity for our institutions to learn from each other’s experiences and strengthen our respective approaches to the promotion of human rights.”

Echoing Mr Ojukwu’s points, the chairperson of the Indian NHRC, V. Ramasubramanian, noted similarities between the two countries such as large population and diversity, including religions, languages and a shared history of being under colonial rule for some period of time.

He said, “Even before Nigeria attained independence, India was one of the first countries to establish a liaison office; this MOU is not actually the starting point of our relationship. Rather, it is the natural progression of the friendship and technical cooperation nurtured.

“Therefore, there is a lot of scope for both these institutions to learn from each other’s experience. We can exchange best practices and develop approaches that are very responsive to our respective national circumstances. This MOU carries a wider significance in the context of South-South cooperation.”

Mr Ramasubramanian noted that the Global South has unique experiences and perspectives which offer valuable lessons for the international human rights community.

Senior Human Rights Advisor to the United Nations’ Residents and Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, Adwoa Kufor, who witnessed the signing of the MOU, applauded the partnership.

“In the human rights community that we really want to see. This cross-fertilisation, learning from each system, and learning good practices, and how we can promote human rights,” the advisor said.

Mr Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, noted that the NHRC in Nigeria will translate the commitments on the MOU’s agenda into practical programmes.

Tuesday’s signing of the MOU came after a brief closed-door meeting with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, along with the judges of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Monday.

While journalists were not privy to the meeting, Mr Ramasubramanian explained that the meeting highlighted how human rights institutions throughout the world play a “complementary role to the role of the courts in every country.”

He said the goal of India and Nigeria is to have a collaborative approach to human rights institutions in both countries.

Mr Ojukwu noted that the meeting was necessitated by the complementary roles which the human rights institutions play in collaboration with the judiciary in increasing access to justice.

He said the CJN reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to work hand-in-hand with the NHRC to make sure that both institutions work together and for the benefit of Nigerians.

Ms Kekere-Ekun also emphasised that human rights issues are given expedited action in the courts, Mr Ojukwu said.

While the MOU is not a legally binding document, it serves as a guide for political and institutional guidance to learning and solidarity.