By Abbas Nazil
International human rights scholar, Professor Uchenna Emelonye, has called for a legally enforceable framework to ensure that businesses in Nigeria comply with human rights principles in their operations.
Emelonye, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of AfriRIGHTS and Professor of Law at Bournemouth University, United Kingdom, made the appeal during the United Nations Business and Human Rights Panel Discussion, where he participated as a panelist.
The event, moderated by Adwoa Kufuor-Owusu from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), featured experts, including the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Dr. Ayo Sotinrin, among others.
Speaking on the theme, From Policy to Practice: Operationalising Human Rights in Nigeria’s Industrial and Energy Transition, Emelonye stressed that businesses in Nigeria must align their profit-making motives with respect for human rights, labour standards, and environmental sustainability.
He stressed that companies should prioritize people over profit and operate responsibly to ensure that human dignity is protected in every business process.
Emelonye expressed concern over frequent human rights abuses by corporations in the country, particularly in sectors such as mining and energy.
He advocated for a mandatory Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) for all businesses to ensure that rights protection is embedded in the design, implementation, and closure phases of every project.
The human rights expert said many host communities are left in ruins after mining activities due to the absence of accountability and restorative justice.
He argued that if human rights considerations were integrated into project lifecycles, affected communities would receive proper restitution, restoration, and protection against exploitation.
Emelonye reiterated that for Nigeria to advance its industrial and energy transition effectively, businesses must internalize human rights values and adopt mechanisms that guarantee transparency and accountability.
He noted that enforcing such frameworks would not only improve Nigeria’s global business reputation but also ensure sustainable development and social justice for all citizens.