1st Partnership Development Workshop
Conceptual Framework
For several decades, Canada and Canadians have been deeply involved in human rights development in Nigeria (Africa’s most important socio-economic and political player). For example, Canada and Canadians have funded or supported many constitution-making, electoral reform and human rights efforts in Nigeria. These engagements, the anecdotal evidence suggests, have played an important role in Nigeria. Yet, the nature, attainments, problems and prospects of such Canadian/Nigeria human rights engagements have not been as rigorously studied and widely understood in the scholarly (as opposed to merely NGO and government) literature as might be expected. This is so even though Nigeria is now by far Africa’s largest and most important political economy.
In the light of this significant gap in knowledge and the need to advance the process of closing it that this planned scholarly event was proposed. The event which is being convened by Professor Obiora Okafor, the University Chair in International and Transnational Law at York University, on behalf of Osgoode and NIALS, is an interdisciplinary international workshop on “Canadian/Nigerian Human Rights Engagements: A Critical Assessment”.
Key Participants and Speakers
Professor Obiora Okafor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Professor Lorne Sossin, Dean, Osgoode Hall Law School
Professor Annie Bunting, York University
Professor Faisal Bhabha, Osgoode Hall Law School
Professor Paul Ocheje, University of Windsor
Professor Pablo Idahosa, York University
Professor Bruce Ryder, Osgoode Hall Law School
Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Dr Cyril Gwam, Nigerian High Commission, UK
Dr. Basil Ugochukwu, Osgoode Hall Law School
Dr. Ibe Ifeakandu, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Dr. Mosope Fagbongbe, formerly of the University of British Colombia
Terrine Friday, Osgoode Hall Law School
Uche Ngwaba, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Jake Okechukwu Effoduh, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Saratu Bissallah- Alao, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Izevbuwa Ikhimiukor, formerly of Middlesex University