ACCI DG Leads West Africa’s First Business & Human Rights Practitioners’ Certification Programme
State Correspondent
West Africa recorded a major milestone in the advancement of responsible business practices as the first Business and Human Rights (BHR) Practitioners’ Certification Programme was successfully concluded on December 2–3, 2025, in Abuja.
The landmark two-day programme was organised by the African Continental Centre for Business and Human Rights (ACCBHR) in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
The event attracted 118 participants drawn from the legal profession, compliance and sustainability fields, the extractive and financial sectors, human rights institutions, government agencies, international organisations and civil society.
The programme opened with a keynote address by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, who emphasised Nigeria’s increasing commitment to mainstreaming human rights principles into business operations. He underscored the growing influence of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) frameworks across Africa and globally.
In his welcome address, the President of ACCI and Leader of the Organized Private Sector in Abuja, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, stressed the vital role of the private sector in promoting ethical business conduct. He commended the collaborative efforts that made the certification programme possible and reiterated ACCI’s commitment to supporting robust governance systems that enhance investor confidence and national competitiveness.
Serving as Programme Lead, the Director General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, explained that the course was structured around the three pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Protect, Respect and Remedy. He noted that the programme responds directly to Africa’s urgent need for trained BHR professionals capable of navigating global standards while applying contextualised, Africa-specific solutions.
One of the major highlights of Day One was Mr. Agabaidu’s interactive skills-building workshop. As a Human Rights Governance, Risk and Compliance Specialist, he guided participants through sector-based human rights risk mapping, practical due diligence design, and the operationalisation of Business and Human Rights compliance programmes using open-source tools adapted for low-capacity environments.
The foundational session was delivered by Dr. Chris Ugwuala, who traced the historical evolution of BHR from the 1970s draft UN Code of Conduct to the adoption of the UNGPs in 2011. He highlighted Nigeria’s 2022–2026 National Action Plan (NAP) as one of the most advanced on the continent.
Mrs. Pwamdundi Oko, Business and Human Rights desk officer at the NHRC, provided an in-depth analysis of the Nigerian NAP’s four pillars and implementation challenges, sparking lively discussions on how national human rights institutions can accelerate progress despite resource limitations.
Day Two shifted focus to remedy and accountability. Stakeholders explored the strengthening of non-judicial grievance mechanisms, climate change litigation trends in Africa, and modern slavery risks in regional supply chains. Sessions on new and emerging global due diligence standards, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD, equipped participants with tools for compliance readiness.
Mr. Agabaidu in his closing remarks announced that the organisers will establish a National BHR Practitioners’ Roster to support the monitoring and implementation of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Participants will complete open-book assessments before receiving their certificates.
He noted that the successful execution of the programme demonstrates Africa’s readiness not only to comply with global expectations but also to contribute meaningful, home-grown innovations to the global Business and Human Rights landscape.
The ACCBHR confirmed that the certification programme will be rolled out in East Africa (Nairobi) and Southern Africa (Johannesburg) in 2026, with advanced modules already under development. Stakeholders described the Abuja edition as a pivotal step towards building a cadre of African professionals capable of strengthening corporate accountability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance across diverse sectors.
Through the collective leadership of ACCI, NHRC and ACCBHR, and the pivotal role of Mr. Agabaidu, Nigeria has further cemented its place at the forefront of Business and Human Rights development in Africa.
(Olayemi John-MensahACCI Media & Strategy Officer, December 8, 2025)
