The Nigerian Bar Association NBA Lagos Branch President, Ikechukwu Uwanna has spoken on the need to enforce the Citizen’s Fundamental Human Rights.
This was made known in his welcome address at the 2022 International Human Rights Summit held yesterday at Muson Center, Lagos.
He said “we are here to fulfill that very important and solemn mandate of extending the frontiers of fundamental rights, human rights, and peoples rights so that we can build a nation where peace and justice will reign.”
Read Full Speech Below;
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LAGOS BRANCH, IKECHUKWU UWANNA, AT THE 2022 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SUMMIT
On the 10th of December,2022 the entire world celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The theme for this year’s celebration was Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All.
Dignity, Freedom and Justice are very fundamental to human existence. Without them, any and every human being will be a little less than how he/she was created. Just like a threefold cord, dignity, freedom and justice are germane to crafting any sustainable nation. Little wonder, they form an integral part of our constitution. Section 34 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides that:
Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly –
(a) no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment;
(b) no person shall he held in slavery or servitude; and
(c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.”
Also, the Court of Appeal in Uzoukwu v. Ezeonu II (1991) 6 NWLR (Part 200) 760-762 paragraph G-D: Nasir, PCA held as follows:
“It may be recalled that human rights were derived from and out of the wider concept of natural rights. They are rights which every civilized society must accept as belonging to each person as a human being. These were termed human rights. When the United Nations made its declaration it was in respect of “Human Rights” as it was envisaged that certain rights belong to all human beings irrespective of citizenship, race, religion and so on. ”
Interestingly, section 3 (11) of the constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association makes this provision as one of its aims and objectives “Promotion and protection of the principles of the rule of law and respect for the enforcement of fundamental rights, human rights, and people’s rights.”
Today, we are here to fulfill that very important and solemn mandate of extending the frontiers of fundamental rights, human rights, and peoples rights so that we can build a nation where peace and justice will reign.
I will not go into the substance of the discourse for today, as I know we have a list of very eminent speakers who will do justice to the topics.
May I therefore limit my address to congratulating our Vice Chairlady, Mrs. Abiye Tam George and her team of very committed and dedicated Human Rights Warriors who have put together this event. Thank you for your time, dedication and efforts towards ensuring that we leave a better country than we met.
I now welcome you all to this epoch-making event.
Ikechukwu Uwanna
Chairman
NBA Lagos