Nigeria and India have strengthened bilateral cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, between their National Human Rights Commissions.
The agreement is expected to facilitate institutional collaboration, technical exchanges and capacity development, with particular focus on improving complaint-handling mechanisms, strengthening human rights compliance in security sector governance and promoting joint research.
The development was highlighted during a delegation’s courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The delegation was jointly led by the Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Chief Anthony Ojukwu, and the Chairperson of India’s National Human Rights Commission, Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the agreement as a timely initiative for translating the longstanding diplomatic relations between both countries into practical institutional cooperation.
She emphasised the need for improved access to justice, effective complaint-management systems and stronger protection for persons in vulnerable circumstances.
The Minister said Nigeria and India, as members of the Global South, had an opportunity to contribute to a more inclusive international human rights architecture.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen engagement with India and other international partners to advance human rights diplomacy and strengthen the effectiveness of national and international human rights institutions.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu also expressed appreciation to United Nations member States for supporting Nigeria’s election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2028 term.
She reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guided by the principles of objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive international engagement.
The Minister, however, drew attention to concerns about the treatment of Nigerian citizens serving in custodial centres in India, calling for appropriate attention to their welfare, dignity and fundamental human rights.
Nigeria’s NHRC Executive Secretary, Chief Anthony Ojukwu, described the MOU as an important framework for strengthening institutional cooperation and technical exchanges between both Commissions.
He said the partnership would focus on improving complaint-management mechanisms, strengthening human rights compliance in security sector governance and promoting joint research on international law and human rights implementation.
Chief Ojukwu also stressed the importance of collaboration between the National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in integrating international human rights standards into Nigeria’s treaty obligations and diplomatic frameworks.
India’s NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, highlighted the longstanding historical and diplomatic relations between both countries.
He noted that Nigeria and India shared similarities in population size, ethnic and religious diversity, cultural heritage and democratic aspirations.
Justice Ramasubramanian described the agreement as an important step towards practical cooperation, institutional learning and capacity development through the exchange of experiences and best practices between both human rights institutions.
RN
