Amnesty International Nigeria Highlights Growth, Accountability, and Reform at 2nd Annual General Meeting
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amnesty International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has called for deeper accountability, stronger grassroots participation, and sustained commitment to human rights as the organisation held its second Membership Annual General Meeting.
Speaking at the gathering attended by members, partners, volunteers, and representatives from Ghana, Kenya, and Germany, Rafsanjani described the meeting as a “defining moment” for the organisation, noting that it provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made and set priorities for the future.
He said the AGM marked an important milestone for Amnesty International Nigeria, coming after its recognition as a full section of the global Amnesty movement. According to him, the achievement reflects years of “sustained effort, discipline, and belief,” while also placing greater responsibility on the organisation to uphold higher standards of governance and impact.
Rafsanjani acknowledged the challenging human rights environment in Nigeria, citing insecurity, poverty, abuse of power, and shrinking civic space. Despite these challenges, he said Amnesty International Nigeria has remained firm in its mandate to defend the rights of vulnerable and marginalised groups.
He highlighted several interventions carried out by the organisation over the past year, including advocacy under the #EndTigerBase campaign, which he said contributed to reforms in response to reported abuses. He also referenced the release of Adamu Oseni after years of wrongful imprisonment, describing it as a result of sustained advocacy efforts.
Other cases cited included intervention in a Plateau child protection matter, which led to access to medical care, legal support, and steps toward accountability, as well as a report titled A Decade of Impunity, which examined insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East and contributed to public discourse on justice and reform.
Rafsanjani emphasized the need to expand Amnesty’s membership base and strengthen state-level structures to reflect Nigeria’s diversity. He said the organisation must improve youth engagement and adopt more effective use of technology to broaden its reach.
He further stressed that growth must remain rooted in core values such as fairness, inclusion, accountability, and respect for diverse opinions.
On governance reforms, he noted that the current AGM structure may no longer be sustainable given the organisation’s expanding membership base, which includes over 4,000 volunteers and more than 200,000 supporters nationwide.
He proposed a shift toward a more structured representation model, where each state would be represented by selected delegates through a transparent process, describing it as a “one state, one vote” system aimed at ensuring fairness, sustainability, and stronger participation at state level.
Rafsanjani concluded by urging members to remain united in purpose despite differences in opinion, reaffirming that Amnesty’s mission is rooted in the principle that “no one should suffer injustice in silence.”
He called for continued collaboration, stronger organisational structures, and renewed commitment to defending human rights across Nigeria.
