The Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Oyo State has urged the management of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) to use its wide reach in promoting human rights issues in the state.
Miss Oyindamola Bamgbose, the State Coordinator of HRC, made the plea on Thursday in Ibadan when she led other staff of the commission on a courtesy visit to the Ibadan zonal office of NAN.
According to Bamgbose, the headquarters of HRC had deemed it fit to create more state offices in an effort to to sensitise people at the grassroots on their rights.
”We began operations in February and a lot of people don’t know about the Human Rights Commission and not many people even feel the need to challenge violation of their rights.
”We in the HRC recognise the roles played by NAN as a media organisation in promoting human rights and creating awareness to enable the general public to know their rights.
”Your job gives the public power to educate themselves, then use the power to also ask for those rights; that is the reason we thought it wise to come here to request for your collaboration.” the coordinator stated.
She also noted that cases of sexual violence and other human rights violations were rampant in the state and that the commission was making efforts to hold meetings with the Commissioner for Justice and other stakeholders in finding ways to address the menace.
Bamgbose said the HRC intended to also embark on school visitations in partnership with the state government to educate pupils and students on their rights and what to do when such rights were violated.
She further disclosed that the commission had received 10 petitions between February and April and that few of the petitions had been transferred to the appropriate quarters for action.
Bamgbose urged victims of human rights violations to visit the commission’s office at the Federal Secretariat in Ibadan for necessary support.
She said the service of the commission was free, adding that petitioners should not necessarily be victims.
In his response, Mr Mufutau Ojo, a Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Zonal Manager of NAN in Ibadan, assured of the agency’s commitment to the promotion of human rights issues.
According to Ojo, NAN prides itself in its reach and depth of coverage, adding that the agency currently provides the bulk of the content in the Nigerian media.
He promised that the agency would give the commission adequate coverage of its activities.
