Nigeria and India have strengthened bilateral cooperation on human rights following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their respective National Human Rights Commissions (NHRCs).
The agreement was highlighted during a courtesy visit by a joint delegation from the two commissions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja.
The delegation was led by the Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s NHRC, Chief Anthony Ojukwu, and the Chairperson of India’s NHRC, Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the agreement as a practical step towards translating longstanding Nigeria-India relations into institutional cooperation on human rights promotion and protection.
She said the partnership would help strengthen access to justice, improve complaint-handling mechanisms and enhance protections for vulnerable groups.
The minister also said Nigeria and India, as members of the Global South, could contribute to a more inclusive international human rights system through stronger collaboration and diplomacy.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu thanked United Nations member states for supporting Nigeria’s election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027-2028 term and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to its international human rights obligations under the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
She also raised concerns about the treatment of Nigerians held in custodial facilities in India and called for greater attention to their welfare, dignity and fundamental rights.
Chief Ojukwu said the MoU would provide a framework for stronger institutional cooperation and technical exchanges between the two commissions.
According to him, the partnership will focus on improving complaint-management systems, strengthening human rights compliance within the security sector and promoting joint research on international law and emerging human rights issues.
He added that closer collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would support efforts to align Nigeria’s treaty obligations and diplomatic engagements with international human rights standards.
Justice Ramasubramanian said the agreement reflected the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and India, noting similarities between both countries in terms of population, diversity and democratic values.
He described the MoU as an important step towards advancing practical cooperation, institutional learning and capacity development through the exchange of experiences and best practices between the two national human rights institutions.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to strengthening cooperation on human rights, fundamental freedoms and international engagement.
