The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has announced plans to create a dedicated centre aimed at helping businesses align their operations with human rights standards.
Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, Director-General of ACCI, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He explained that the chamber has initiated collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission to establish the centre, which will focus on promoting responsible business practices that respect human rights.
“Our goal with this centre is to ensure businesses operate in a way that respects the rights of all members of society,” Jideani stated. “This aligns with both national and international guidelines on business conduct.”
The centre is envisioned as an African Continental Centre for Business and Human Rights, serving as a platform for coordinated action across the continent. It will provide support for businesses to adopt ethical practices and include a Dispute Resolution Centre where victims of human rights violations related to business activities can seek remedies.
Jideani emphasized the centre’s role as a hub for collaboration, bringing together stakeholders from across Africa to address business and human rights issues effectively.
He also highlighted ACCI’s existing dispute resolution mechanisms, noting:
“The chamber already operates a national Dispute Resolution Centre that efficiently handles commercial disputes, boosting business confidence and institutional trust. This new centre will complement those efforts by focusing specifically on human rights-related cases.”
Beyond this, ACCI runs a Business, Entrepreneurship, Skills, and Technology (BEST) Centre, which provides world-class training to empower individuals and organizations within the Abuja business community. The centre aims to bridge the skills gap between educational outputs and industry demands by offering vocational training and entrepreneurship development, especially targeting youth and women.
“Our surveys showed that educational institutions often don’t meet the practical needs of industry,” Jideani explained. “The BEST Centre addresses this by offering tailored training programs that enhance productivity and business operations.”
Furthermore, ACCI operates the National Advocacy Policy Centre (NPAC), which champions business-friendly policies and economic growth by gathering insights from industry experts and policymakers to influence effective policy decisions.
