The training is expected to strengthen monitoring, reporting, and advocacy efforts for displaced persons in Nigeria, particularly in the South-South region.
By TheInvestigator
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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has commenced an inception training on information and data collection for the protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDP) in Nigeria.
The two-day training, which began today at Teny Homes, Ekorinim in Calabar Municipality, the Cross River State capital, is part of the 2025 NHRC/UNHCR Project, a three-year initiative to promote and protect the human rights of IDPs, asylum seekers, refugees, and returnees.
Speaking at the opening session, NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu (SAN, OFR), highlighted the significance of the training, which is being implemented in 11 states, including Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Benue.
“It is important to understand that data collection under this project must be guided by a Human Rights-Based Approach, emphasizing the principles of human rights monitoring, including participation, disaggregation of data, transparency, accountability, and confidentiality,” Ojukwu stated.
Represented by Okay Agu, Head of the Monitoring Department, he noted that the main goal of the project is to generate qualitative information on displaced persons to enhance advocacy, research, and policy formulation. “With this, the Commission intends to be the custodian of data on the FDPs/IDPs in your states and generally in Nigeria as the project progresses,” he added.
Key topics covered on the first day included the NHRC’s mandate, challenges in human rights monitoring, and an overview of the UNHCR’s role in humanitarian interventions in Nigeria. A practical session on the Kobo Tool Questionnaire for data collection and analysis was also conducted to equip participants with digital data-gathering skills.
The second day features discussions on the protection challenges facing FDPs, IDPs, refugees, and asylum seekers in Nigeria, with interactive sessions designed to enhance participants’ capacity in human rights documentation and response.
The sessions were facilitated by Richard Valentine, UNHCR’s Protection Associate and Okay Benedict Agu, NHRC’s Head of Monitoring Department.
The importance of using a Human Rights-Based Approach in data collection, ensuring transparency, accountability, and confidentiality in handling displaced persons’ information was herpes upon by the Cross River State Coordinator of NHRC, Remi Ajuga.
Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the event, advised host communities to be hospitable to anyone who is in danger. “Live in peace, accommodate these people, many of them have been absorbed into the society in Ikom, Boki and Bakassi and they are living peacefully. Many of them have embarked on economic activities that are meaningful and many are living as good people.”
Buttressing his point, he added “The host communities should know that these people are vulnerable, they are in situations where they can’t help themselves. They left their homes because of violence, war or natural disaster and they need support. And the human web as it is, we are meant to support each other.”
The training is expected to strengthen monitoring, reporting, and advocacy efforts for displaced persons in Nigeria, particularly in the South-South region.
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