NHRC to launch human rights radio station as Borno NUJ applauds medium

Recognizing the growing demand for accessible human rights information, Dr. Tony Ojukwu of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has revealed that the organisation was working towards establishing a fully operational human rights radio station.

The initiative, he said, was to enhance public awareness, provide timely information on rights violations, and foster active citizen engagement in human rights advocacy and climate justice.

Currently, the commission receives over two million complaints of human rights violations yearly. The surge in reports is largely due to increased public awareness, and radio has played a pivotal role in this effort, he added.

Ojukwu called on media practitioners, policymakers and civil society organisations to support the expansion of human rights-focused radio programming. He urged more radio stations to dedicate airtime to human rights discussions, policy advocacy, and grassroots mobilisation.

“We encourage more radio stations to integrate human rights programming into their content. A well-informed society is crucial for building a culture of respect for human rights in Nigeria,” he said.

With this year’s World Radio Day (WRD) theme, “Radio and Climate Change,” Ojukwu emphasised the role of radio in driving public conversations on climate action and justice.

SIMILARLY, the Borno State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has stressed that radio remains an essential medium for raising awareness and education of the audiences to promote collective action.

Unveiling the critical roles of radio yesterday in Maiduguri, the State NUJ Chairman, Abdulkareem Haruna, stated: “In Borno State, radio has been particularly instrumental during the 15-year Boko Haram insurgency with massive displacement of people,” adding that radio had served as a lifeline, by providing critical information on the dissemination of vital news, security updates, and other information about humanitarian aid to displaced populations and host communities in the state. Citing a platform for dialogue and reconciliation, Haruna noted that the forum had facilitated conversations, by promoting peace-building initiatives.