Nigeria, India Deepen Human Rights Cooperation, Sign Institutional Partnership Agreement
Oru Leonard
Nigeria and India have strengthened bilateral cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Human Rights Commissions of both countries.
The agreement is aimed at enhancing institutional collaboration, technical exchanges, capacity development and the promotion of international human rights standards.
The development was highlighted during a courtesy visit by a joint high-level delegation of the Nigerian and Indian National Human Rights Commissions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
The delegation was jointly led by the Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Anthony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, and the Chairperson of India’s National Human Rights Commission, Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the MoU as a timely initiative that would translate the longstanding diplomatic relations between Nigeria and India into practical institutional cooperation.
She stressed the need to strengthen access to justice, improve complaint-handling mechanisms and ensure adequate protection for vulnerable persons, particularly in accessing essential services and support.
The minister noted that Nigeria and India, as members of the Global South, had significant opportunities to contribute to a more inclusive international human rights framework.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen engagement with India and other international partners towards advancing human rights diplomacy and improving the effectiveness of national and international human rights institutions.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also expressed appreciation to United Nations member states for supporting Nigeria’s election into the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2028 term.
She reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guided by objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive international engagement.
The minister, however, raised concerns over the treatment of Nigerian citizens held in custodial centres in India, calling for appropriate attention to their welfare, dignity and fundamental human rights.
Earlier, Ojukwu described the agreement as an important framework for strengthening institutional cooperation and technical exchanges between the two human rights commissions.
He explained that the partnership would focus on improving complaint-management systems, strengthening human rights compliance in security sector governance and promoting joint research on international law, human rights implementation and emerging issues.
He also emphasised the importance of collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the integration of international human rights standards into Nigeria’s treaty obligations and diplomatic frameworks.
In his remarks, the Indian NHRC Chairperson, Justice Ramasubramanian, highlighted the longstanding historical and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and India.
He observed that both countries shared similarities in population size, ethnic and religious diversity, cultural heritage and democratic aspirations.
According to him, the MoU would facilitate practical cooperation, institutional learning and capacity development through the exchange of experiences and best practices between the two commissions.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral relations, promoting fundamental freedoms and advancing international cooperation in human rights protection.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi.
