The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Human Rights Commission have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting businesses and advancing ethical and responsible business practices across Africa.

NHRC boss Tony Ojukwu emphasised the commitment in a statement by Olayemi John-Mensah, ACCI spokeswoman, on Saturday.

Mr Ojukwu spoke at a webinar organised by both organisations in Abuja.

“As we strive for economic integration through the AfCFTA, we must uphold human rights as a central tenet of our business practices. The AfCFTA plays a pivotal role in fostering a unified market for Africa’s 1.3 billion people while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights,” Mr Ojukwu said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in human rights advocacy by adopting a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, making Nigeria the third African country to implement such a framework.

ACCI president Emeka Obegolu reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to fostering ethical business practices. He emphasised the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, describing it as the largest free-trade area in the world by participating countries.

Mr Obegolu noted that the AfCFTA offered immense opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial growth, stressing that these benefits must align with a strong commitment to human rights.

ACCI director-general Agabaidu Jideani called for collective action among stakeholders to integrate human dignity into business operations.

He urged businesses to adopt human rights-focused policies and frameworks to create a resilient and accountable business environment across the continent.

(NAN)