By Janet Oyeleye
Nigeria has consolidated its influence in Africa’s human rights architecture following the election of the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Anthony Ojukwu, as Vice-President of the African National Preventive Mechanisms Network (ANPMN).
Ojukwu was elected on June 26 during the Fourth Annual Conference of the ANPMN in Kigali, Rwanda. Stakeholders described the outcome as a major endorsement of Nigeria’s leadership in preventing torture and protecting the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.
The conference, themed “Women and Children in Detention: Gender-responsive and Child-sensitive National Preventive Mechanism Approaches,” was held to coincide with the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The timing, organisers said, underscored renewed continental commitment to ending torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The newly elected Steering Committee of the network will be led by Commissioner Philile Ntuli of the South African Human Rights Commission as President. Ojukwu will serve as Vice-President.
Other members of the committee are representatives from Morocco, Rwanda, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania.
The NHRC described Ojukwu’s election as “significant continental recognition” of his work in advancing torture prevention and strengthening preventive monitoring mechanisms in Nigeria.
“The election reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT and the country’s increasing contributions to regional human rights initiatives,” the Commission said.
ANPMN is the continental platform that brings together National Preventive Mechanisms established under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
The network promotes cooperation among African states in monitoring detention facilities, preventing torture, sharing best practices, building technical capacity, and advancing compliance with international human rights standards. Its permanent secretariat is based in Rabat, Morocco.
In Nigeria, the NHRC serves as the National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT. Its mandate includes independent inspections of detention facilities, identifying conditions that could lead to torture or ill-treatment, and recommending reforms to safeguard the rights and dignity of detainees.
Human rights observers said Ojukwu’s election positions Nigeria to play a more central role in shaping Africa’s torture prevention agenda at a time when many countries are under pressure to improve detention conditions, enhance accountability, and align with international obligations.
“Ojukwu’s emergence is a significant continental recognition of his leadership in advancing torture prevention,” the NHRC stated.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the NHRC’s Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed.
