The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, has been honoured with the 2026 UTA International Humanitarian Award for championing a victim-centred approach to human rights protection, including compensation, economic empowerment and restorative justice for victims of violations.
The United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation (UTA), Nigeria Chapter, presented the award to Ojukwu in Abuja on Thursday as part of activities marking World Humanitarian Day 2026.
The recognition, according to UTA, was in acknowledgement of Ojukwu’s sustained efforts to promote human dignity, expand access to justice and protect vulnerable and marginalised Nigerians.
Rather than limiting the response to documenting violations, the interventions highlighted by UTA focused on helping victims recover and rebuild their lives through economic empowerment, compensation and restorative support.
The initiatives also include transitional and restorative justice programmes in the North-East and efforts to improve access to justice for poor and marginalised persons.
The recognition comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s continuing humanitarian and human rights challenges arising from conflict, displacement, poverty and other forms of vulnerability.
Under Ojukwu’s leadership, the NHRC has increasingly positioned victims at the centre of its interventions, pursuing not only accountability for violations but also remedies, restoration and practical support for affected persons.
Receiving the award, Ojukwu described it as both an honour and a fresh call to humanitarian service.
“As a humanitarian myself, this award has stimulated me to do more,” he said.
He stressed the importance of placing victims, dignity and justice at the heart of human rights protection, particularly in a country facing complex humanitarian challenges.
UTA described the NHRC chief’s interventions as contributing to the advancement of human dignity and the protection of vulnerable populations.
The organisation is a United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organisation with consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The award ceremony attracted government officials, diplomats, humanitarian actors and other stakeholders.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, was represented by the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Zubaida Abubakar Umar.
Also present were representatives of the Zamfara State Governor; the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro; members of the diplomatic corps; UTA International Global Secretary-General, Dr. (Amb.) Eya Essif; and UTA-Nigeria Country President, Amb. Princess Abigail Amalaha.
The honour effectively places renewed attention on the humanitarian dimension of human rights protection in Nigeria, particularly the need to move from responding to violations to ensuring that victims receive justice, restitution and the means to regain sustainable livelihoods.
