Ojukwu Elected ANPMN Vice-President in Continental Vote for Nigeria

By Toffa Momoh | Abuja

Chief Anthony Ojukwu, SAN, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has been elected Vice-President of the African National Preventive Mechanisms Network, ANPMN.

Ojukwu’s election was announced on 26 June 2026 at the Fourth Annual Conference of ANPMN in Kigali, Rwanda, the NHRC said in a statement on Monday. The Commission serves as Nigeria’s National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture, OPCAT.

The conference, themed “Women and Children in Detention: Gender-responsive and Child-sensitive National Preventive Mechanism Approaches,” held on the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The NHRC said the timing reflected Africa’s renewed commitment to preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The newly elected ANPMN Steering Committee for the next term is headed by Commissioner Philile Ntuli of the South African Human Rights Commission as President. Ojukwu will serve as Vice-President.

Other Steering Committee members are representatives of the National Preventive Mechanisms of Morocco, Rwanda, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania.

ANPMN is the continental platform for NPMs established under OPCAT. The Network works to strengthen preventive monitoring of places of deprivation of liberty, share best practices, and promote technical cooperation among African NPMs. Its Permanent Secretariat is based in Rabat, Morocco.

The NHRC described Ojukwu’s election as recognition of his leadership in torture prevention and of the Commission’s work in preventive monitoring and protecting the rights of persons deprived of liberty. It added that the vote reflects confidence in Nigeria’s National Preventive Mechanism and its contributions to regional human rights initiatives.