President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry ACCI, Dr Emeka Obegolu has reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to fostering ethical business practices.
He made the reaffirmation during a webinar organised by the ACCI, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, with the theme “Promoting Responsible Business Practices in Africa: Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Respect and Remedy for Human Rights”.
Dr Obegolu emphasized the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, describing it as the largest free-trade area in the world by participating countries.
He noted that the AfCFTA offers immense opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial growth but stressed that these benefits must align with a strong commitment to human rights.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area is a monumental achievement, but its success is incomplete without a robust dedication to human rights principles,” Chief Obegolu stated.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, while speaking delivered an inspiring emphasis on Nigeria’s leadership in human rights advocacy through the adoption of a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
He said, “With this milestone, Nigeria becomes the third African country to implement such a framework, as we strive for economic integration through the AfCFTA, we must uphold human rights as a central tenet of our business practices.”
Dr. Ojukwu further highlighted the pivotal role of the AfCFTA in fostering a unified market for Africa’s 1.3 billion people while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights.
Also the Director General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani called for collective action among stakeholders to integrate human dignity into business operations.
He urged businesses to adopt human rights-focused policies and frameworks to create a resilient and accountable business environment across the continent.
Olusola Akintonde
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