Two high-level advocacy visits; to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), have produced concrete commitments to protect the rights of people living with HIV and key populations in Edo State.
In a significant stride toward strengthening the rights and welfare of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and Key Populations (KPs) in Edo State, Amber Care and Right Development Initiative (ACRDI), in collaboration with Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) Edo State Chapter, conducted back-to-back advocacy visits to two critical institutions - Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Edo State Office.
The visits, conducted under the Community Led Monitoring (CLM) project implemented within the Global Fund/NEPWHAN framework, are part of a broader multi-stakeholder engagement strategy aimed at improving accountability in health service delivery, reducing stigma and discrimination, and strengthening protection mechanisms for vulnerable communities across the state.
Media as a public health ally
At the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City, NEPWHAN State Coordinator Mr. Friday Osayende led the delegation before the Edo State Council of the journalists' union, where he described the media as the "unofficial fourth arm of government," stressing its indispensable role in shaping public narratives and driving accountability. He outlined the CLM project's mandate: to monitor the quality of HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) service delivery, capture real-time community feedback, and amplify unheard voices within the health system.
Representatives from implementing Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including ACRDI, presented evidence of persistent gaps on the ground - from entrenched stigma and discrimination within healthcare facilities and communities, to shockingly low rates of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) reporting driven by fear, social stigma, and concerns about confidentiality. Limited public awareness of support systems and reporting mechanisms was also identified as a major barrier to help-seeking behaviour.
 |
| HIV, TB, and Malaria are not death sentences — they can be effectively managed with proper care. The public must be told this, repeatedly." — Mr. Festus Alenkhe, NUJ Edo State Chairman |
NUJ Edo State Chairman, Mr. Festus Alenkhe, received the delegation warmly and commended NEPWHAN for its impactful community work. He went further, announcing a concrete institutional response: the establishment of a dedicated three-member media team comprising professionals from print and radio, assigned specifically to support CLM-related reportage and advocacy campaigns. Mr. Alenkhe also urged the CLM team to develop Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and to leverage the widelylistened-to "How You Dey" pidgin-English radio programme, which broadcasts across the state weekly, as a vehicle for health and human rights sensitisation.
Proposed areas of collaboration between NUJ and the CLM partners include joint anti-stigma and GBV awareness campaigns, co-creation of evidence-based stories drawn from CLM data, and strengthened visibility of referral pathways and support services available to PLHIV and KPs.
A government institution opens its doors
In a separate visit to the NHRC Edo State Office, the same delegation was received by Deputy Director Mrs. Osahemi Okoro Ifunaya, alongside principal staff including the Public Relations Officer, Assistant Directors, members of the investigation team, and legal officers. Mrs. Okoro reaffirmed the Commission's statutory mandate to promote and protect the rights of all Nigerians, and expressed the Commission's openness to deeper collaboration with civil society actors.
ACRDI Program Officer, Kackah Alex, presenting on behalf of the CBOs, laid out troubling findings from CLM field activities including documented cases of harassment, extortion, family rejection, forced eviction, and violence linked to societal stereotypes, alongside persistent stigma within healthcare settings and chronically low levels of reporting. He noted that these challenges significantly worsen health-seeking behaviour, with affected individuals going underground and avoiding essential services altogether.
The delegation highlighted critical systemic gaps: weak linkage between community members and formal human rights institutions, low trust in reporting systems, and inadequate documentation and escalation of violations. ACRDI acknowledged that limited organisational capacity and funding constraints have hampered comprehensive legal followup on reported cases making the case for a formal, structured partnership with NHRC all the more urgent.
All our services are free. We are open and accessible to every individual and organisation seeking redress." — Mrs. Osahemi Okoro Ifunaya, NHRC Edo State Deputy DirectorThe NHRC responded positively. Commission officials welcomed the CLM initiative and agreed to partner with ACRDI, NEPWHAN, and all affiliated CBOs in handling and documenting human rights and GBV cases. The Commission expressed willingness to participate in joint community sensitization activities, support the strengthening of referral and follow-up mechanisms, and collaborate on capacity-building programmes for community members on human rights and reporting pathways.
To improve access, the Commission shared its available reporting channels: walk-in complaints at the Edo State office; email reporting via [email protected]; and telephone complaints through the designated line — 09061481907 — with structured preliminary investigation and mediation processes to follow.
The Commission's legal officer further noted that the CLM approach aligns directly with NHRC's institutional mandate, and acknowledged the value of the Community Rights Volunteers (CRV) platform established by NEPWHAN — of which he is an active member — as a critical bridge between community grievance systems and formal redress mechanisms.
A new coalition for accountability
Taken together, both visits mark a watershed moment in ACRDI and NEPWHAN's advocacy strategy, signalling a shift from community-level engagements alone toward structured, institutionalised partnerships with media and government bodies. The complementary commitments secured from NUJ and NHRC are expected to produce increased public awareness and reduced stigma around HIV and GBV, improved visibility and reporting of human rights violations, and enhanced trust between marginalised communities and the institutions responsible for serving them.
ACRDI and its partners have affirmed their commitment to sustaining both collaborations and translating the agreed action points into measurable outcomes ensuring that the voices of PLHIV and Key Populations in Edo State are not only heard, but protected.
