Nigeria has strengthened its influence in Africa’s human rights architecture following the election of the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Anthony Ojukwu, as Vice-President of the African National Preventive Mechanisms Network (ANPMN).
Ojukwu was elected on June 26 during the Fourth Annual Conference of the ANPMN in Kigali, Rwanda, a development seen as a major endorsement of Nigeria’s leadership in the prevention of torture and the protection of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.
The conference, held under the theme, “Women and Children in Detention: Gender-responsive and Child-sensitive National Preventive Mechanism Approaches,” coincided with the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, underscoring renewed continental efforts to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The newly elected Steering Committee of the continental network is headed by Commissioner Philile Ntuli of the South African Human Rights Commission as President, while Ojukwu will serve as Vice-President. Other members of the committee are representatives from Morocco, Rwanda, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania.
The NHRC described Ojukwu’s emergence as a significant continental recognition of his leadership in advancing torture prevention and strengthening preventive monitoring mechanisms in Nigeria.
According to the Commission, the election also reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and the country’s increasing contributions to regional human rights initiatives.
ANPMN is the continental platform that brings together National Preventive Mechanisms established under OPCAT. The network promotes cooperation among African countries in monitoring detention facilities, preventing torture, sharing best practices, building technical capacity and advancing compliance with international human rights standards. Its permanent secretariat is based in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission serves as the country’s National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT, with responsibility for conducting independent inspections of places of detention, identifying conditions that could facilitate torture or ill-treatment, and recommending reforms to safeguard the rights and dignity of detainees.
Observers say Ojukwu’s election places Nigeria in a stronger position to shape Africa’s torture prevention agenda at a time when many countries are seeking to improve detention conditions, enhance accountability and strengthen compliance with international human rights obligations.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the NHRC’s Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed.
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