Amnesty International Nigeria has hosted its Osun State Write for Rights Day in Obafemi Awolowo University on Friday, November 15. The event, held in the Students’ Union Building Conference Room, aimed to promote human rights awareness and activism among students.
Joshua Oyebode, Osun State Coordinator of the Amnesty International Nigeria Supporters’ Group, while delivering his welcome address, emphasized on the importance of human rights advocacy.
Reiterating the purpose of the event, Oyebode posed thought-provoking questions to attendees, sparking a lively discussion on human rights and activism. Mr. Yemi Abiona, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Osogbo Branch, delivered a keynote address on “The Shrinking Civic Spaces.” Abiona fielded questions from students on topics such as protests, student consciousness, and human rights.
Oyebode presented several campaign cases, highlighting the Write for Rights Campaign’s history, which began in 2001 in Poland. He explained that the campaign aims to advocate for victims of human rights violations.
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Details were provided on five specific Write for Rights cases of this year; Joe Parades from Argentina, Wet’Suwet’En Nation land defenders from Canada, Oqba Hashad from Egypt, Dang Dinh Bach from Vietnam and Maryia Kalesnikava from Belarus, followed by a letter-writing session and petition signing by attendees to support the aforementioned in their travails.
David Ogunlade facilitated a feedback and comments session, while Oluwagbemileke Olujobi encouraged participants to join Amnesty International Supporters’ Group.
Joshua Oyebode gave the closing remarks, thanking attendees for their participation. The event concluded with a photo session, capturing the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants.