Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR SAN
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC) Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN) has tasked participants of the one day expert meeting on the validation of the draft legislation on the Safe School Declaration to work together to ensure that every child in Nigeria can learn in safety and dignity.
He gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja while presenting his remarks at the event.
Ojukwu noted that education is the bedrock of any nation’s development, saying that it is the foundation upon which the aspirations of individuals and the progress of society are built.
According to the NHRC’s boss, “Yet, in recent years we have witnessed the tragic and devastating impact of incessant attacks on our schools-attacks that have not only disrupted the education of countless young Nigerians but have also instilled fear in our communities and undermined our collective failure and the fundamentahuman rights of our children.
“In response to these alarming trends, Nigeria made a history commitment by signing the Safe School Declaration in 2019, affirming our dedication to protecting education from attacks even in times of conflict. This Declaration promises our children, their families, and future generations that we will do everything possible to ensure that schools remain safe heavens for learning and growth. However, signing the declaration is only the first step. The true test of our commitment lies in our ability to translate these promises into actionable, legally binding measures. This is why today (Wednesday’s) validation event is so critical.
Je affirmed that the development of a robust legal framework for the SSD was the Commission’s result of extensive research and consultations in partnership with the Women Advocates, Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) with the support from the United Nations Democracy FUND (UNDEF)
“I must say that the draft legislation is designed to provide the necessary protections and mechanisms to ensure the safety of our schools and the rights of the Nigerian child regardless of their location or circumstances.”
Core Reporters report that the Safe School Declaration if domesticated in Nigeria will ensure the establishment of National safe schools and security Coordinating council, schools safety committeess , emergency response plans and security measures, amongst others.
Meanwhile, while delivering a goodwill message, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the Executive Director, Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre emphasised the need for a legal framework doe the Safe Schools Declaration.
