The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is set explore new strategies involving beauty of knowledge, ideas and intellect to showcase human rights culture throughout the African continent, targeting the youths.
Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu Esq. made this disclosure in his welcome address at the official unveiling of the Human Rights Africa International Pageant in Abuja, a product of collaboration between the Commission and House of Eden, a non-governmental organisations.
According to the NHRC Boss, in the course of the project, delegates will be tested on their knowledge in all areas of human rights promotion and protection and youth will through drama be taught how to play the role of right holders and duty bearers, victims and survivors, complaints and respondents in various thematic areas of human rights ranging from Migration, internally displaced persons, refugees, trafficking, civil protesters, SGBV survivors, etc.
The Chief Human Rights Officer stated that the project will be done through drama and skills, as a way of increasing the knowledge and understanding of human rights amongst the TV and other social media handles where the Pageant will be beamed.
Ojukwu however, said the key objectives of the pageantry was to bring awareness and information on human rights to every youth, family and Community, as well as bring about rising consciousness among Nigerian and African leaders of tomorrow etc, on the importance of human rights with regards to balancing power, human rights and leadership.
“This is in addition to promoting a gradual and predictable decline in civil strife and other concerns occasioned by rampant breaches of the fundamental rights of citizens by the authorities or other citizens”, the Executive Secretary stated.
In her remarks, the Founder, House of Eden, Princess Barbara Amaka Obi-Odoh corroborated the Executive Secretary on the nature of the pageantry, saying Human Rights Africa International Pageant was not a beauty pageant and does not tolerate any kind of nudity or anything near nudity.
“The only fashion of this Pageant is clothes befitting future leaders and those that promote Africa’s high moral values, cultures, customs and traditions”, she added.
According to Princess Obi-Odoh, the target of this project is the leaders of tomorrow and two activities concepts dearest to the youth everywhere: leadership development and public education will be featured across country lines and across thematic qualities of their activism and advocacy all geared towards the promotion and protection of human rights on the continent.
In his contribution at the opening ceremony of the event, an erudite Nigerian, Prof. Pat Utomi lauded the thoughtful of the Commission and House of Eden in pursuing the intellectual pageant, saying that its focus on human rights promotion is a step in the right direction.
Prof. Utomi noted that paying greater attention to dignity of human person is key to all round development, saying promoting a culture of human rights targeting the young population remains one of the most dynamic and innovative ways to comply to the Universal Declaration of human rights.
In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba commended the idea of the pageantry which is targeted at the youth, saying that it will be of immense benefit to Nigeria and Africa as a whole to entrench a human rights culture as a way to challenge the rising cases of human rights infractions in the society, using intellectual pageant.
The IGP who was represented by a Senior Police Officer from the Force Headquarters, Kalu Chijioke said that the Police Force was desirous of a Society where the fundamental rights of citizens will be accorded the utmost respect and protection they deserve.
He, however, stated that lack of infrastructures like CCTV Cameras, comprehensive citizens’ identity data base etc remain major challenges in the quest by the Police to rid the society of criminal elements.
Representatives of other Civil Society Organisations like SERAP, CISLAC, CPJ etc who also graced the occasion were united in their position that the beauty of knowledge and ideas driven pageant will contribute to human rights protection and that they will support the project in any way possible.
Highpoints of the ceremony were the signing of MOU by the Commission and House of Eden and the official unveiling of the pageantry project at the NHRC Headquarters.
