The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Association of Proprietors of Private Media Establishment of Nigeria (APPMEN) have begun moves to forge a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening human rights advocacy, expanding public awareness and promoting responsible media practice across Nigeria.
The collaboration took shape on Tuesday when the leadership of APPMEN, led by its National Coordinator, Chief Precious C. Enebuse, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting also provided APPMEN the opportunity to formally invite the Commission to participate in the Aso APPMEN/Content Creators 2026 Conference, billed for September 24 in Abuja.
Describing the visit as “timely and strategic,” Ojukwu said the Commission was eager to partner with credible media organisations to broaden citizens’ understanding of human rights and make the Commission’s interventions more visible nationwide.
“You can take my words to the bank. The NHRC is already partnering with APPMEN. You are going places, and we are ready to work with you,” the Executive Secretary assured the delegation.
He said the Commission was repositioning itself through new intervention programmes, including the Human Rights Fund, Development Fund, and Human Rights Emergencies Initiative, designed to provide rapid support for victims of flooding, banditry, communal conflicts and other humanitarian crises.
Ojukwu, however, stressed that the success of the initiatives would depend on stronger institutional backing, improved funding and the necessary legislative support, while calling on corporate organisations, development partners and patriotic Nigerians to contribute to the Commission’s humanitarian interventions.
He noted that the media remains one of the Commission’s most important partners in promoting accountability, defending citizens’ rights and strengthening democratic governance.
On his part, Enebuse said APPMEN was committed to deploying its nationwide network of media organisations and digital content creators to promote human rights education, ethical journalism and civic responsibility.
He said the proposed partnership would enable both institutions to work more closely in advancing public enlightenment campaigns, defending fundamental freedoms and encouraging responsible media reporting.
The two organisations agreed to formalise their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will provide a framework for joint advocacy, capacity-building programmes, public awareness campaigns and other initiatives aimed at promoting human rights and national development.
The planned collaboration is expected to feature prominently at the forthcoming Aso APPMEN/Content Creators 2026 Conference, where stakeholders from the media, government, civil society and the creative industry will deliberate on the future of digital communication, ethical content creation and national development.