NHRC Gives Human Rights Media Award to ThisDay Correspondent

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has given ThisDay correspondent, Michael Olugbode its 2025 Human Rights Media Award.

Also awarded in a special recognition marking its 30th Anniversary are

Falmata Daniel of Premium Times and Emeka Amafor of TV 360. UNHCR and Dorothy Njemanze Foundation were also awarded for their contributions to human rights.

In a citation, Michael Olugbode was described as “a veteran Nigerian journalist whose career spans more than twenty-five years of dedicated service, distinguished reportage, and unwavering commitment to truth and public accountability. A graduate of Business Administration, he began his professional journey with the Nigerian Tribune, where he was employed as a business correspondent.

“His career took a defining turn when he joined ThisDay Newspaper, one of Nigeria’s leading national dailies. Michael was posted to Maiduguri at a time when the Boko Haram insurgency was intensifying, and it was there that he produced some of his most impactful work.

“He covered the insurgency and its devastating humanitarian consequences with rare courage and empathy, bringing national and international attention to the plight of affected communities.

“Following the relative easing of the crisis, Michael was redeployed to Abuja, where he now covers major beats including Foreign Affairs, the Interior Ministry, and several strategic agencies and parastatals. Among these is the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), where he has distinguished himself as one of the Commission’s most consistent and accurate chroniclers. His reportage on human rights issues is marked by depth, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to factual accuracy.

“Michael is widely respected for his professionalism, consistency, and ethical approach to journalism.

“He is known for syndicating NHRC stories across multiple platforms, ensuring wide visibility and public engagement. His dedication to promptly delivering credible reports, as well as his habit of ensuring his beat is fully covered even in his absence, reflect his exceptional work ethic and sense of responsibility.

A hardworking and principled journalist, Michael Olugbode has contributed immensely to strengthening public awareness on governance, humanitarian issues, institutional accountability, and human rights in Nigeria.”

Michael Olugbode was also described as one of Nigeria’s most respected journalists.

In his speech, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu at the occasion commemorating its 30th anniversary and 2025 International Human Rights Day, said:

“As Nigeria’s National Human Rights Institution, we recommit ourselves today to the mandate that has guided us for 30 years to protect, promote, and enforce the rights of all persons in Nigeria.

“This Year’s event is a special one. It commemorates the 30th anniversary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Institution. Hence, we proudly celebrate 30 years of service to humanity since our establishment in 1995.”

He explained that International Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on 10 December to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

He added that it serves as a global call to action to uphold everyone’s fundamental rights, dignity, and freedom from discrimination.

This year’s International Human Rights Day is themed ‘Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials’.

According to the United Nations, the theme is necessary to re-emphasise the values of human rights as a unifying solution to the challenging and uncertain times.

NHRC Gives Human Rights Media Award to ThisDay Correspondent

NHRC Condemns Lamurde Protesters Killing, Calls for Probe

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the killing of peaceful protesting women in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, in a statement in Abuja, decried that such actions amount to grave violation of human rights which is fundamental, inalienable rights of every Nigerian.

Ojukwu, while demanding that the Federal and State Governments should commit to respecting and protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful protest, and immediately review security-sector protocols to prevent excessive use of force, also requested that measures for reparation and psychosocial support be made available to survivors and families of victims.

Ojukwu, while calling for a scaled up of civic-education and human-rights awareness programmes, especially in conflict-prone areas in order to rebuild public trust and reinforce the legitimacy of peaceful protest, urged the federal government to fast-track the adoption of the National Policy on Protection of Civilians in Conflict Situations and further called on the Adamawa State Government to urgently initiate peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve on-going inter-communal conflicts in the state.

The statement read: “The National Human Rights Commission expresses its profound shock and deep sorrow over the tragic killing of protesting women in Lamurde Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

“The pattern of violence against peaceful protesters undermines the protective mandate of the NHRC, which exists to uphold these very rights under its enabling legislation.

He noted that on the 31st of July, the NHRC issued an “Advisory on the Protection of the Right to Freedom of Association and Assembly in Nigeria” where it stated the principles and values underpinning

these twin freedoms as cornerstones of our democracy. He added that: “It is our strongest view that where the

Freedom of Assembly is violated, the very foundation of our democracy is attacked. The National Human Rights Commission affirms that the killing of protesting women whether done by members of the Armed Forces as alleged by many accounts or by Non-State Actors violates the very essence of our humanity – the right to life.”

The National Human Rights Commission therefore called on all responsible authorities to immediately: Launch a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances

surrounding the killings; Identify and hold to account all those responsible — including command-level officers and ensure they face appropriate criminal prosecution; Provide full reparations and support to the victims, their families and the communities

affected; Guarantee that no similar incident happens again, by enforcing strict adherence to legal standards on use of force, and by facilitating the safe exercise of citizens’ rights to protest, assembly, and expression.

Ojukwu said: “In view of the above, the NHRC demands that: The Federal and State Governments should commit to respecting and protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful protest, and immediately review security-sector protocols to prevent excessive use of force; Measures for reparation and psychosocial support be made available to survivors and families of victims; Civic-education and human-rights awareness programmes be scaled up — especially

in conflict-prone areas — to rebuild public trust and reinforce the legitimacy of peaceful protest as a tool for social change.”

Ojukwu further demanded that: The Federal Government should fast-track the adoption of the National Policy on Protection of Civilians in Conflict Situations.

“The Adamawa State Government initiates as a matter of urgency peacebuilding and

conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve on-going inter-communal conflicts in the

state.”

Meanwhile, the NHRC reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending the inalienable rights of all Nigerians, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children, warning that the Commission shall deploy its full mandate, including monitoring, investigation, and public reporting to ensure justice, accountability and non-repetition.

Ojukwu said: “We stand ready to work with the authorities, civil society, and affected communities to ensure that this tragedy does not reoccur and that those who lost their lives in Lamurde, or whose rights were violated, receive justice, recognition and dignity.”

NHRC Condemns Lamurde Protesters Killing, Calls for Probe

Zulum Opens UBEC 28th Quarterly Meeting in Maiduguri

… Says Borno invested 53.6b on Education in 2025

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday, declared open the 28th Quarterly Meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), stating that the State Government invested over N53.6 billion in education sector in 2025.

The meeting, which brings together Executive Chairmen and management of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) from across the federation, is held at the International Conference Centre of Musa Usman Secretariat, Maiduguri.

In his opening address, Governor Zulum underscored the critical role of education in fostering peace and development. He highlighted Borno’s significant investments in rebuilding educational infrastructure destroyed by insurgency, including the construction of over 104 new schools and the recruitment of thousands of teachers in the last six years.

“This administration has prioritised the strengthening of our teaching workforce, with an investment of Four Billion (₦4 billion) in teacher training. This effort includes a comprehensive verification and professionalisation exercise, the recruitment of four thousand (4,000) qualified teachers and the provision of large-scale training for over eleven thousand (11,000) basic-level teachers.

The state promptly implemented the minimum wage and improved teacher welfare through measures such as rural posting allowances, the construction of teachers’ quarters across senatorial zones, and the settlement of outstanding gratuities.

In the current year alone, the state has invested eighteen billion, nine hundred and eighty-seven million, sixty-nine thousand, six hundred and seventy-five-naira, thirty-three kobo (₦18,987,069,675.33) in some major education infrastructure alone across all local government areas. Two of these projects are among those commissioned by the honourable minister today.

In the tertiary education sector, the state recorded notable progress through major infrastructure upgrades, expanded staffing and sustained accreditation efforts. We invested six billion, nine hundred and sixty-three million, one hundred and fifty thousand naira only (₦6,963,150,000) in capital projects across key institutions. We approved an additional One Billion Naira (₦1 billion) to support the transition of the College of Education, Bama, into the new Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship. To enhance institutional capacity, 567 academic staff were recruited across tertiary institutions.”

Additional expenditures cover infrastructure upgrades to support technical and vocational education, investments in ICT and Digital literacy, scholarships, and support for Arabic and Almajiri education.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, charged delegates to engage in purposeful and productive discussions. He emphasised that the outcome of the meeting must translate into actionable policies that address current challenges, such as out-of-school children, teacher development, and infrastructure deficits.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, called for an insightful deliberation. Se stressed the importance of the quarterly meeting as a vital platform for peer review, experience sharing, and strategic alignment between the federal and state levels.

Before the opening ceremony, the minister of education, alongside Governor Zulum and the UBEC executive secretary, commissioned three newly completed mega schools in Maiduguri.

Two of the schools, located in Bulabulin and Kaleri, were constructed by Borno State Government. At the same time, the Bilingual Education Boarding School Ngarannam was built by the federal government and funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

Zulum Opens UBEC 28th Quarterly Meeting in Maiduguri