The Honourable Minister Rauf Aregbesola (R) and IHRC Ambassador at Large to Nigeria, Dr. Duru Hezekiah.
… IHRC Visits Nigeria Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola at the Federal Ministry of Interior, FCT, Abuja
Towards advancing corporate partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the scope and objectives of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and jointly exploring avenues of possible cooperation in international diplomacy, protection of the fundamental human rights of people, and continued comprehensive security cooperation, and reforms to support economic growth in Nigeria, the Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission to the International Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah has outlined antecedents of the Organization before the Nigeria Minister of Interior, H.E. Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola on Friday in Abuja.
Speaking during the high-level delegation meeting, the Ambassador at Large, noted that the International Human Rights Commission is a Transnational Intergovernmental Organization with world headquarters in Switzerland established to uphold the dignity and human rights of people, providing humanitarian aid and maintaining peaceful dialogue between government and citizens.
He maintained that changing things for the Nigerian people is the priority of IHRC, emphasizing the numerous humanitarian interventions in the area of disaster relief and advocacy programs in education, human rights, leadership, and governance carried out by the Organization including facilitating the release of inmates from Nigeria Correctional Centre.
While appealing to the Federal Government for effective cooperation with IHRC, Dr. Duru added that the Organization is ready to help Nigeria in providing humanitarian interventions, supporting government policies and inclusive leadership that represent all Nigerians.
In response, the Honourable Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, commended the International Human Rights Commission, eulogizing the caliber of the team members and their unrelenting commitment to the fight for human rights across the globe, even noting that Nigeria is one of the Member States of the UDHR Treaties promoting the culture and education of human rights.
“Your Organization has a major role to play in Nigeria regarding the people whose rights are abused, ensuring their dignities are protected and restoring normalcy. You must therefore be a major advocate, and observer of the treaties and rights that guarantee we are human”, he added.
He stressed that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes the equality and dignity of every human being and stipulates that every Government has a core duty to enable all people to enjoy all their inalienable rights and freedoms, urging that interventions should not be limited to relief materials alone but should also focus on advocacy, monitoring and observing the compliance of human rights against abuses; “be rest assured of our partnership whenever we are called upon to do so”, he summed up.
Staffs of the Ministry Present at the meeting were Babajide Atolagbe (Chief Superintendent of Implementation), Kania Maliki Andeyaba (AD Press), and Chugbo Florence Ifeanyichukwu (Head of Protocol), amongst others.
Reported
Fidelis Onakpoma
Head of Media and Strategic Communications, IHRC Nigeria
