The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has moved to strengthen its communication strategy as a critical component of human rights protection, warning that poor communication could undermine efforts to expose violations, protect victims and educate Nigerians about their rights.
The Commission said its status as an internationally accredited A-Status National Human Rights Institution required a communication system capable of meeting global standards of accuracy, professionalism, independence and strategic advocacy.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made the position known during a two-day training on Human Rights Reporting and Advocacy organised for staff of the Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department in Abuja.
Ojukwu, who was represented by the Director, Civil and Political Rights, Mr Halilu Adamu, said human rights protection could no longer be confined to investigations, interventions and other traditional mechanisms.
He said the manner in which human rights issues were communicated, particularly in the digital age, could determine whether violations attracted public attention, whether victims’ experiences were properly understood and whether citizens were equipped to know and defend their rights.
According to him, the Commission must be able to translate complex human rights issues into compelling and accessible content capable of reaching Nigerians, particularly young people and digital audiences.
He urged the media and communication team to make strategic use of social media to educate citizens, publicise the Commission’s interventions, counter misinformation and strengthen engagement between the institution and the public.
Ojukwu charged staff to build a communication culture anchored on accuracy, professionalism, ethics, empathy, dignity and strategic advocacy, stressing that every communication from the Commission carries implications for its credibility and independence.
The Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Hajiya Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, said the training was designed to bring the Commission’s communication operations in line with global best practices following its A-Status accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
She stressed that the accreditation should not be viewed merely as an award but as recognition of the Commission’s compliance with the Paris Principles and an obligation to operate at a higher level of responsibility.
Agwai Mohammed disclosed that the Executive Secretary’s expectation was for the department to go beyond event coverage and actively use communication to defend and advance human rights.
“The ES does not want a media department that merely covers events. He wants a department that defends human rights through communication,” she said.
She said every press release, social media post and other public communication from the Commission must reinforce its independence, impartiality and credibility.
The director further warned against communication that could be perceived as propaganda, insisting that an A-Status national human rights institution must communicate with authority while remaining factual, timely and firmly grounded in human rights principles.
She said NHRC’s communication should provide hope to vulnerable people while offering guidance to duty bearers on their obligations.
Agwai Mohammed also called for a professional, secure and proactive media operation capable of monitoring developments, verifying information, responding to emerging issues and educating the public around the clock.
She warned that silence could be costly in the digital environment, where misinformation and competing narratives can rapidly shape public understanding of human rights issues.
The training, held on September 22 and 23 at theBUNKers, Wuse 2, Abuja, covered graphic design with Canva, content creation, social media management, news writing and human-rights storytelling.
At the conclusion of the programme, participants pledged to apply the knowledge acquired to improve the quality of the Commission’s content, strengthen advocacy, deepen public engagement and contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights in Nigeria in accordance with global best practices.
