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By Zika Bobby
International human rights scholar, Uchenna Emelonye, has emphasised the need for Nigerian businesses to prioritise human rights in their operations.
Speaking at a United Nations Business and Human Rights Panel Discussion, Emelonye, a professor ,said companies must be held accountable for their impact on human rights.
“Most businesses in Nigeria infringe on the rights of their employees, contract workers, customers, supply chain workers, and the communities around them. Violations range from child and forced labour to poor staff safety standards, environmental degradation, and the absence of proper grievance mechanisms,” he said.
Emelonye, CEO of AfriRIGHTS and Professor of Law at Bournemouth University, United Kingdom, called for an enforceable framework that would mandate businesses to conduct human rights impact assessments and adhere to policies that protect human rights.
He called on civil society organizations to move from being watchdogs of human rights violations by businesses to co-designers of enforceable remedies.
The event, moderated by Adwoa Kufuor-Owusu of United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) drew participants from across the world and had other eminent panelists including Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture. It explored and proposed practical tools for government, businesses, and civil society to integrate human rights due diligence, strengthen social dialogue, and establish effective remedy mechanisms towards a business future for Nigeria that is inclusive, rights-respecting, and globally competitive.
