Amb, Chibuzor Okereke, Nigeria’s Legislative Governance Expert and Policy Analyst has called for adequate population data management infrastructure, patriotism to advance Human Rights conditions in Nigeria.
He stated this when he participated in a programme at the MIVA Open University Policy Dialogue on Human Rights to commemorate the Human Rights Day in Abuja.
The programme which brought together seasoned academicians was intended to chat a way of building a just and egalitarian society.
In a statement which Amb. Okereke made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, read: “I was honored to be invited by the esteemed Professor Sam Oni, Head of the Department of Public Policy and Administration at MIVA Open University, to participate in the MIVA Open University DPPA Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, held today, December 10, 2024 in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day.
“The event brought together the Vice Chancellor, university management, staff, students, and other key stakeholders to engage in a critical discourse on the theme, “Advancing in Nigeria: Building a Just Society.
“As a discussant, I emphasized the intrinsic and inalienable nature of human rights. I argued that for citizens to fully enjoy their substantive rights, several critical factors must be addressed.
“These include the necessity of an accurate and reliable population census for data-driven decision-making, the integration of human rights data into policy formulation, and the improvement of operational infrastructure to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of state institutions tasked with safeguarding human rights.
“I also highlighted the importance of promoting democracy and human rights literacy, fostering active citizenship through the development of a strong cadre of rights advocates, and dismantling the governance dichotomy between federal and state institutions in the administration of human rights cases.
“Further to the above I called for the strict adherence to and operationalization of the provisions of Chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“My central argument was that the gravest form of human rights violation in any nation is the persistent failure of governance or the observed deliberate perpetuation of bad governance and the ugly use of state apparatus for oppression and repression.
“These to me constitutes a breach of the social contract and undermines the trust between the state and its citizens. Only by addressing these systemic issues can we build a truly just society and advance human rights in Nigeria.”
