NHRC, Taiwan Empowers 11 Victims of Human Rights Violation

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the support of Taiwan Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria has empowered 11 indigent victims of human rights violation with a total amount of N1 million.

The empowerment programme is meant to boost the socio-economic well-being of the beneficiaries, who have been identified and verified by the Commission as those in dire need and are willing to improve their economic situation.

In his welcome address at the event, the Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu
said the occasion is “an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable milestone in our journey towards social justice, inclusion and empowerment.”

According to him, “the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, proudly presents this empowerment programme, not only as a gesture of compassion but as a manifestation of our statutory mandate to restore the dignity of men and women”.

Ojukwu stated that a core part of the mandate of the Commission includes providing assistance to victims of human rights violation, including legal support, psycho-social services, and where possible, empowerment initiatives as this.

Commending the support of Taiwan Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, Ojukwu noted that “our partnership with the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria is a shining example of how international cooperation can yield real, impactful benefits for the vulnerable in our society.

He also urged the beneficiaries to see the programme as a stepping stone and not the destination adding that the Commission always shares the pain of survivors and is willing to offer more support.

In his remarks, Head of Mission Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, Andy Yih-Ping- Liu said that his country’s cooperation extends to several areas including socio-economic interventions in Nigeria, saying that people should be supported to realize their dreams and contribute their quota to national and international development.

According to the him, his country is an Island of 23 million people which does not have the vast mineral resources that Nigeria has but relies heavily on the power of the brain to improve the standard of living of its citizens.

The Chief Representative of Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria pointed out that the East Asian country has suffered greatly from natural disasters and other challenges but has consistently focused attention on human capital development and improvement in technology.

He disclosed that less that two percent (2%) of Taiwanese citizens is illiterate, adding that education is key to society development and citizens well-being and that his country has always given priority to education and human capital development.
He described Taiwan as a global role model following its significant technology breakthroughs.

Liu who was accompanied by his wife, revealed that they have spend 30 years in Nigeria and that his country is determined to render humanitarian support to indigent victims of human rights violations in Nigeria.

Scores of invited Non Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations were in attendance to witness the empowerment programme, which is a continuation of the NHRC’s interventions into cases of human rights violations.

It will be recalled that the Commission had provided support to victims of human rights violation through its various defunct investigation panels, where many Nigerians including women and indigent victims of human rights violation were paid compensations to ameliorate their plights.

The Commission in 2024 paid approximately N500m to victims SARS brutality in addition to making far-reaching recommendations to the federal government on human rights friendly policing in Nigeria.

Before then, the NHRC had in 2018 paid N135m compensation to family members of some motorcyclists and artisans, who were shot and killed in Abuja by some operatives of State Security Service (SSS) who claimed that the victims were terrorists.

Chief Executive Officer of Thelma Lion Foundation Dr. (Mrs) Ifeoma Uche Agu, donated the sum of N100,000 in support of the empowerment programme while Dorothy Njemanze Foundation promised capacity building training for the recipients to enable them utilize the funds efficiently.

In addition, Imabong Ladipo Samsi of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) said her organisation is ready to organize mental health training for the recipients.

NHRC, Taiwan Empowers 11 Victims of Human Rights Violation