By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (Precise Post) The Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN, has been elected President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA).
Ojukwu’s election was confirmed during the closing session of a three-day regional consultation of the Network, held to mark the end of the tenure of outgoing president, Dr. Joseph Whittal of Ghana, who served for six years.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ojukwu vowed to strengthen regional collaboration to promote and protect human rights across West Africa. Outlining his vision, he emphasized capacity-building for national institutions, the establishment of a sub-regional Situation Room and Data Centre, and stronger monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
“My vision for this Network is anchored on respect and cooperation to promote and protect human rights in West Africa,” he said, pledging to work closely with ECOWAS institutions, the United Nations, the media, and civil society groups.
The new executive team includes Amsatou Sow Sidibe (Senegal) as Vice President; Charles Harris (Liberia) as Treasurer; Serge Prince (Benin) as General Secretary; Alkadri Diarra (Mali) as Publicity Secretary I; Patricia Ndanema (Sierra Leone) as Publicity Secretary II; and Fernanda Maria da Costa (Guinea-Bissau) as
