Right Abuses: Nigerians trained to fight back

A nongovernmental Organisation, Crime Victims Foundation (CRIVIFON), based in Lagos State, has taken the time to train some selected Nigerians on how to know and enforce their fundamental human rights.

The participants, in the course 9 training, were trained for three months.   The Executive Director of CRIVIFON Barrister Gloria Egbuji, while presenting certificates of merit to the participants, urged them to respect the rights of others and duplicate their knowledge on human rights.
The participants urged the government to make human rights education compulsory in school and corporate setting for Nigerians.
One of the participants, Mr. Thompson Akpan, said: “We were taught Fundamental Human Rights and other aspects of human rights. I would like to urge the government to make human rights education compulsory in schools.  Members of the public should also get this training. It’s vital.” 
Mr.  Olawale Olushola, the General Secretary of the Course 9 training, said: "The Programme was wonderful. I now know my rights. I also now know the laws on rape and domestic violence. We were also exposed to tenancy and International Human Rights laws. I urge government to ensure all Nigerians take human rights courses."
The Programme Officer of CRIVIFON, Barrister Ene Unobe, said the participants were trained for three months on Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution and the International Human Rights laws.
Unobe said: “These also include the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, African Charter on people and human rights, International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the convention on the rights of the child. The tenancy law, Child Rights Act and child right law of Lagos State in addition to the domestic violence law of Lagos State. The training is aimed at reducing conflicts in our society as knowledge of human rights will go a long way in checking violence and abuse of rights."