By Zainab Oyekan
The Plateau Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, has forged a partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to establish Human Rights clubs across secondary schools in the state.
The chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Olivia Dazyam, speaking during an engagement with stakeholders on Thursday in Jos, said the initiative was aimed at promoting rights awareness, dignity, equality, and justice.
Dazyam said it was also to empower students with knowledge of human rights, responsibilities, leadership, and citizenship.
She said the project started in 2025 in consultations with stakeholders, including the NHRC, SHIFT Initiative, an NGO, and the state’s Ministry of Education.
According to Dazyam, the partners agreed that addressing human rights violations required early intervention through schools, where values and attitudes were formed among children.
She disclosed that Human Rights Club toolkits had been developed to guide schools on club formation, management, activities, and sustainability across Plateau.
The chairperson said this year’s engagement focused on principals, civic education teachers, and guidance counsellors, who would champion implementation in their respective schools statewide.
She said that the clubs would provide platforms for students to discuss challenges, advocate positive change, as well as to promote respect, tolerance, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence.
Dazyam, however, expressed concern over reported cases of sexual abuse, bullying, discrimination and other violations in schools and homes, stressing that schools must no longer tolerate silence.
She, therefore, urged teachers and counsellors to create supportive environments where students could freely discuss emotional challenges, rights violations, and protection concerns.
Dazyam said the clubs would outline responsibilities for principals, teachers, and counsellors, including facilitating discussions, mentoring students, identifying vulnerable learners, and providing necessary referrals where required.
She expressed confidence that stakeholder collaboration would strengthen child protection mechanisms, reduce rights violations, and nurture responsible citizens committed to justice nationwide.
Also speaking Mrs Pwaluri Yawa, Assistant Director Investigation, National Human Rights Commission, said that the initiative would promote Human Rights Clubs in secondary schools to foster dignity, inclusivity and advocacy, while addressing educational challenges linked to abuse and poor social backgrounds
Mrs. Keithleen Davou, Director School Services, Plateau Ministry of Education, said the ministry was partnering the stakeholders to establish Human Rights clubs in schools, promoting safety, rights awareness, and conducive learning environments.
Representative of SHIFT initiative, Mr Daniel Bassey, who facilitated the interactive session with participants, expressed concern over the growing insecurity facing schools across the country.
Bassey noted that teachers and educational institutions had increasingly become targets of threats and attacks.
According to him, the establishment of Human Rights clubs will help promote safe school environments, strengthen students’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities, and encourage a culture of vigilance, respect and protection within school communities.
NAN reports that the participants described the initiative as timely, saying the clubs would help students understand their rights and responsibilities while promoting discipline, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.
Mrs Patience Mark, a teacher from Government Secondary School, Giring, Jos, said the clubs would complement classroom learning by providing practical opportunities for students to discuss rights issues, build leadership skills, and report abuses.
Ladi Makan, another teacher from Government Technical College, Bukuru, Jos welcomed the initiative, noting that the clubs would create safe spaces for students to share concerns, seek support and develop confidence to speak against violations.
Enoch Milahaw, the Principal, Government Secondary School, Mangu, Mangu Local Government Area, said the clubs would strengthen child protection efforts and help reduce bullying, discrimination, and other harmful practices within schools. NAN
