Global Rights Nigeria, a human rights-based organisation committed to building grassroots movements that protect and promote the rights of marginalised populations, held two-day media training on Business and Human Rights in Lagos.
The training equipped journalists with knowledge on the intricacies of reporting the relations in business and human rights.
The meeting was also an avenue to educate media professionals on, and expose them to the dynamics of the legal instruments applicable to dealing with business and human rights issues, including UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP).
Speaking during the opening session of the training, the executive director, Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, tasked the media on upholding its role as the ‘fourth estate of the realm’ by holding the government accountable.
Baiyewu, who decried the devastating impact of mining companies in host communities in Nigeria, further spurred journalists to take up projects that expose human rights violations by the mining companies.
According to Baiyewu, the relationship between civil society and the media is on the assumption, and so there is so much interaction between business and human rights that we need not ignore.
“Environmental Impact Assessment is a crucial undertaking for any government that is serious about the entrenchment of corporate accountability, protection of lives of its citizens and sustainable development,” she said.
She further cited notable examples of some Nigerian extractive companies with a history of environmental degradation in host communities.
Dayo Aiyetan, executive director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), spoke on the principles for investigative journalism and the use of the Freedom of Information Act for journalists.
He also stressed that since 2011 when FOI Act was passed, it has shown efficacy in exposing secrets about government activities and provided credible information, adding that journalists could effectively utilise the Act for good journalism.
However, he outlined the limitations of the Act, and revealed the on-going efforts to amend the areas that restrict access to information.
The training had different shared insights on diverse topics such as “Overview of the basics of Human Rights: Concept, Laws and Policies at the Media training on Business and Human Rights,” facilitated by Aderonke Ige of Global Rights; “Understanding Consumer and Employee’s Rights,” facilitated by Susie Onwuka, Head of Consumer Protection Commission.
Some of the participants shared their experiences with BusinessDay.
Smith Nwokocha, one of the participants from Port Harcourt, said the training had increased his confidence in reporting, adding that he has now better been informed of his rights as a journalist.
Abdulasalam Amoo, a participant, said his knowledge about the relationship between business, host community and consumers has greatly increased.
According Amoo, the protection of human rights is a constitutional matter that is protected by the law and every journalist is a human rights journalist.
“I’ve learnt a lot. We’ve been taught about the interaction between business and consumers. It’s important that business take the rights of the consumers seriously in whatever they do.
Businesses should be mindful of not violating the rights of people in the process of producing or providing whatever service they are providing,” Amoo said.
