In line with our thought leadership drive, the Company Secretary and Group Head, Legal, Mrs. Adaeze Nwakoby, attended the 2019 Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference where she delivered key insights to minimizing human rights abuse in extractive communities on the discussion panel.

The Conference themed ‘Facing The Future’ had panelists examine Security and Human Right Issues in Nigeria’s Extractive Industry.  The outcome of the discourse was to propose key recommendations to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) on the Voluntary Principles (VP) initiative aimed at protecting human rights of business communities.

The propositions include the following:

1. That the FGN supports the ongoing initiative by National Human Rights Commission, CSOs and other stakeholders towards adoption of National Action plan on Business and human rights to improve the governance climate in extractive industries and businesses generally in Nigeria.
2. Urges the FGN to sign up to the VPs in the extractive Industry and attend the Global Plenary scheduled to hold  2020 as a member of the Voluntary Principles Initiative.
3. Urges the FGN to include VP in bilateral/multilateral trade and investment agreements/ treaties.
4. Urges companies and consultants in the extractive industries to imbibe, adopt and implement VPs in their core principles and operations.
5. Urges Lawyers to include VPs in negotiating, drafting and managing contracts in the extractive industries.