The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. United Nations (UN) member states have pledged to protect these rights both at the international and regional levels. Alongside laws and legal frameworks, human rights defenders play a major role in the promotion and protection of human rights within society.
Commonwealth Alumnus Akebin Imiete Onyighi is a passionate human rights defender, committed to raising awareness of fundamental human rights in Nigeria through educational programmes and providing legal support to marginalised communities in Nigeria. Through legal education, advocacy and free legal aid, Akebin empowers vulnerable population by ensuring their rights are protected and upheld. His work has led to increased legal awareness, higher case resolution rates and policy reform efforts aimed strengthening civil society.
Legal awareness and grassroots advocacy
Akebin stresses that Nigeria has many adequate laws to protect human rights. However, a lack of awareness of these, in particular amongst vulnerable groups, enables exploitation. He’s saddened to share that in some cases, exploitation can come from those who are supposed to protect people’s human rights.
“One day at a police station in Rivers State, Nigeria, I witnessed a suspect being detained for a bailable offense. Under the law, every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yet, the officers demanded payment for bail- an outright violation of constitutional rights. Bail is free and must never be for sale.”
Witnessing this situation motivated Akebin to offer his legal skills and services to those who cannot afford legal representation and groups most at risk.
In 2022, Akebin established a Legal Aid Firm which provides free legal services to marginalised and vulnerable populations, with a focus on women and children experiencing domestic violence and exploitation. These groups typically have limited access to justice due to a lack of education on their fundamental human rights and for fear of repercussions in reporting violations, such as further abuse and cultural and social stigma for acting against a husband.
“People are not aware that their rights, when violated, can be protected by law. The law can be used to address these violations and issues… We’re actively involved in the material means necessary for the delivery of human rights in rural areas.”
Leveraging the expertise gained during his Master’s in Human Rights Law at Oxford Brookes as a Commonwealth Scholar, Akebin launched a series of advocacy campaigns, human rights educational programmes and legal aid clinics to empower communities on their rights and the legal support they are entitled to.
Through this advocacy, Akebin’s firm has experienced a marked increase in the number of human rights violation cases reported and contributed to a 30% increase in the number of cases resolved in favour of domestic violence survivors through the provision of legal aid.
Akebin attributes better awareness of rights and an increase in successful cases in encouraging people to report flagrant human rights abuses, knowing that the law will be upheld and that their rights will be protected.
From rural Nigeria to human rights law
Akebin’s motivations to become a human rights defender and complete a Master’s are twofold.
He grew up in Rivers State, Nigeria, in a rural area populated by coastal communities and large multinationals engaged in oil drilling and other industrial activity. Here, he witnessed the ways in which multinationals exploit and violate the rights of local people for profit, often causing environmental pollution and land degradation with little accountability.
“Witnessing these injustices compelled me to become a human rights defender- to stand up for those whose rights are being violated. I felt a strong calling to go where voices are silenced and where fundamental rights are trampled upon. To be a voice for the voiceless, an advocate for the people. I wanted to study and understand how human rights violators are held accountable.”
Akebin trained as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and sought to specialise in human rights law to better serve his community. His Master’s programme at Oxford Brookes University honed his critical thinking and deepened his expertise in international human rights law.
Through additional scholarship opportunities, such as the CSC’s Mentoring Programme, he built a strong professional network which boosted his confidence and sharpened his advocacy skills.
Driving policy change
Alongside the work of his firm, Akebin is keen to contribute to legal changes at the national level. This has seen him work closely with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the 2019 Agents for Citizen-driven
Transformation (ACT) programme. The four-year programme, funded by the European Union (EU) implemented by the British Council Nigeria, was designed to enable CSOs to be credible and effective drivers of change for sustainable development in Nigeria.
Akebin shares that prior to the programme, CSOs in Nigeria, both at the national and sub-national levels, faced significant financial and operational burdens in providing effective service delivery to amplify government efforts to improve the security and welfare of citizens. Burdens included multiple registration processes, taxation and service fees.
Akebin was tasked with drafting a Bill in Rivers State to harmonise CSO registration processes, which included aligning them with current laws and legal practices to conduct their work and streamlining procedures to eliminate unnecessary complications. Akebin identified there was a gap in understanding within government on the role of CSO’s in delivering government initiatives at the community level. To address this, he collaborated with CSO’s and government representatives to facilitate dialogue and encourage stakeholders to find ways of working together in a complementary way.
“Once that gap was bridged, government representatives came out in their numbers. In one of our programmes we saw unprecedented participation from top officials, including permanent secretaries and commissioners.”
The Bill is now a proposed law in Rivers State. If passed by the State House of Assembly, it could be taken to the National Assembly to be passed as an Act, making it applicable in all states.
“We are pushing, we are fighting, to ensure that both the draft bill to harmonise CSO’s registrations- modernising relevant laws to align with current practices, streamlining procedures and eliminating unnecessary registration burdens- and the Rivers State Climate Change Bill are passed into law by the Rivers State House of Assembly in the near future.”
A Commonwealth Scholar creating change
Akebin is proud of his achievements following his Commonwealth Scholarship in enhancing awareness of human rights in marginalised communities.
Through legal advocacy, policy reform, public litigations, and grassroots education, Akebin continues to champion human rights in Nigeria, ensuring access, inclusion and opportunity for all.
“After receiving the Scholarship, I feel more empowered and equipped to contribute to my field and community. I’ve gained not only academic knowledge but also practical experience and a stronger sense of purpose. This transformation has been significant because it has allowed me to overcome obstacles, realise my potential, and position myself as a leader who can drive positive change.”
Akebin Imiete Onyighi is a 2021 Commonwealth Scholar from Nigeria. He completed an LLM in Human Rights Law at Oxford Brookes University.
