… Urges scholars to produce research that can guide policymakers and inform practical solutions to the climate crisis
By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, OON has called for the integration of climate justice, climate adaptation, and environmental legal frameworks into university programs across Africa.
This is also as she has urged scholars to produce research that can guide policymakers and inform practical solutions to the climate crisis.
The Professor of Public Law made the call on Wednesday as leading experts from across Africa gathered in Abuja, Nigeria for the
Regional Africa Human Rights Academic Network Conference 2025 with the theme: Human Rights, Environment and Climate Change: Access to Environmental and Climate Justice within Continental and Regional Human Rights Systems in Africa.
The conference, co-hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and the University of Nigeria’s Faculty of Law, brought together influential partners such as the Royal Wallenberg Institute of Sweden, ECOWAS’ justice arm, the National Health Service (NHS), and academic networks from various African countries.
Since its inception in 2017, this academic network has brought together scholars and stakeholders from across the continent to explore solutions to pressing global challenges.
Precise Post recalls that previous conferences were held in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Skellam Bush, South Africa. This year, Nigeria serves as the conference’s host country, focusing on the urgent need for integrating human rights frameworks with environmental issues, particularly in relation to climate justice and climate action.
Professor Joy Ngozi Ezilo, a leading academic and legal expert at the conference, emphasized the importance of addressing climate change within the framework of human rights.
She highlighted that the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, specifically the Banjour Chapter of 1981, was the first to recognize environmental rights as human rights—a crucial distinction in the fight against climate degradation.
“Human rights must be universal and apply to every corner of the world, including the most affected by environmental degradation,” Professor Ezilo stated. She underscored that this issue is not just about theoretical frameworks but also about actionable policies, legal standards, and practical solutions to protect vulnerable communities, especially women who are often at the forefront of managing environmental challenges.
The conference also addressed the need for higher learning institutions to incorporate climate change and human rights into their curricula.
One of the key highlights of the event was the introduction of the National Human Rights Commission’s new Climate Change and Climate Action Desk. This initiative, which focuses on policy implementation and climate justice, was praised as a significant step in Nigeria’s commitment to addressing climate-related human rights violations.
The conference provided a platform for South-South collaboration, involving universities and scholars from across the African continent. Experts discussed the legal implications of environmental degradation, the growing need for climate reparations, and how to involve the judiciary, civil society, and government in mitigating climate risks.
Precise Post recalls that the consensus at the conference was a clear call for action to ensure that African countries, including Nigeria, take a proactive stance in tackling climate change and safeguarding human rights for future generations.
