The National Human Rights Commission will continue to partner with relevant institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations to facilitate access to child education despite the various social-economic challenges faced by the Citizens.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN who stated this in Abuja when a delegation from Inspire Education Network (IEN) led by its Executive Director, Mr. Alfa Enejo paid a courtesy visit to the Commission, noted that collaboration with stakeholders to champion affordable and accessible education remain a cardinal focus of the NHRC.
The Executive Secretary who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Department, Mr. Harry Obe stated that the Commission maintains "multiple levels of structures that speak to the interest of children". He used the opportunity to call on parents and guardians to take advantage of the Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, which provides for free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school level.
Continuing, he stated that the Commission established departments of Human Rights Education and Promotion and Women and Children to ensure that all issues affecting child education and protection are brought to the front burner with a view to addressing them head on.
The Executive Secretary assured the visiting delegation of the full cooperation and partnership once the necessary due diligence is done and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is drawn between the Commission and Inspire Education Network. Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Director of Inspire Education Network, Mr.Enejo told the Commission that his Organisation is committed to end the out-of- school-children syndrome in Nigeria by partnering with relevant government institutions like the NHRC which has the mandate to uphold all human rights including right to education.
According to Enejo, Inspire Education Network has donated educational materials like exercise books and pens in addition to carrying out a series of sensitization activities in Schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi State and Nasarawa State.
He also solicited the partnership of the Commission in its planned activities to mark the 2024 Children's Day on 27th of May.
