The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, has received the 2026 UTA International Humanitarian Award for his efforts to place victims at the centre of human rights protection and humanitarian interventions in Nigeria.
The United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation (UTA), Nigeria Chapter, presented the award to Ojukwu in Abuja on Thursday as part of activities marking World Humanitarian Day 2026.
UTA said the recognition was in appreciation of Ojukwu’s sustained efforts to promote human dignity, expand access to justice and protect vulnerable and marginalised Nigerians.
The organisation particularly commended initiatives under his leadership that go beyond documenting human rights violations to providing practical remedies for victims, including compensation, economic empowerment, restitution and restorative justice.
The initiatives include transitional and restorative justice programmes in the North-East, as well as measures aimed at improving access to justice for poor and marginalised persons.
The award comes amid persistent humanitarian and human rights challenges in Nigeria, including conflict, displacement, poverty and other forms of vulnerability.
Under Ojukwu’s leadership, the NHRC has increasingly adopted a victim-centred approach, combining accountability for rights violations with remedies and practical support designed to help affected persons recover and rebuild their lives.
Receiving the award, Ojukwu described the honour as both a recognition of past efforts and a renewed call to humanitarian service.
“As a humanitarian myself, this award has stimulated me to do more,” he said.
He emphasised the need to keep victims, dignity and justice at the heart of human rights protection, particularly as Nigeria continues to confront complex humanitarian challenges.
UTA described Ojukwu’s interventions as significant contributions to the advancement of human dignity and the protection of vulnerable populations.
The organisation is a United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organisation with consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The award ceremony was attended by government officials, diplomats, humanitarian actors and other stakeholders.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, was represented by the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Zubaida Abubakar Umar.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Zamfara State Governor; the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro; members of the diplomatic corps; UTA International Global Secretary-General, Dr. (Amb.) Eya Essif; and UTA-Nigeria Country President, Amb. Princess Abigail Amalaha.
The honour has renewed focus on the humanitarian dimension of human rights protection in Nigeria, particularly the need to move beyond responding to violations to ensuring that victims receive justice, restitution, compensation and the means to rebuild sustainable livelihoods.
