The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will deploy new methods to combat rights abuses in Nigeria.
According to the commission’s executive director, Tony Ojukwu, the initiative, which targets youths, will use ideas and intellect to showcase human rights and culture throughout the African continent.
Ojukwu disclosed this, yesterday, during a welcome address at the official unveiling of the Human Rights International Pageant, a collaborative project between the commission and a civil society group, House of Eden.
He said delegates for the project would be tested based on their knowledge of human rights promotion and protection. They will also be taught, through drama, to play the roles of right holders, duty bearers, victims, survivors, complainants and respondents.
He said the key objective of the pageant is to bring awareness to every youth, family and community and boost consciousness among future Nigerian and African leaders on the importance of human rights with regards to balancing power and leadership.
The founder, House of Eden, Princess Barbara Amaka Obi-Odoh, explained the nature of the initiative, saying it is not a beauty pageant and would not tolerate any form of nudity.
According to her, “The only fashion of this pageant is clothes befitting future leaders and those that promote Africa’s high moral values, cultures, customs and traditions.”
Speaking also, a professor of political economy and management expert, Pat Utomi, praised the commission and House of Eden for coming up with the idea of an intellectual pageant.
He said paying greater attention to the dignity of the human person is key to all-round development and that promoting a culture of human rights targeting the young population remains one of the most dynamic and innovative ways to comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
