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Ukorebi Esien | July 4, 2026.
CALABAR – In a bold move to nurture a new generation of rights defenders and climate justice advocates, We the People Centre for Social Studies and Development (CSSD) has admitted the fifth cohort of its flagship Rights Academy, charging participants to challenge injustice, defend vulnerable communities and dismantle the culture of silence that enables human rights abuses across Nigeria.
The Rights Academy, an intensive 13 to 15-week leadership and advocacy programme, officially commenced it's 5th Cohort in Calabar with the admission of 20 young Nigerians selected from more than 100 applicants after a rigorous screening process.
Organisers said the academy is designed to equip young people with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and practical tools required to address the growing intersection of human rights violations, environmental degradation and climate injustice.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Director of We the People, Ken Henshaw, said the academy was conceived from years of firsthand experience documenting abuses suffered by vulnerable communities, particularly those who remained unaware of the rights guaranteed to them under the law.
According to him, one of the greatest enablers of injustice in Nigeria is ignorance.
He recalled conducting research in a low-income community where arbitrary arrests, extortion and torture by security operatives had become so normalised that many residents genuinely believed such treatment was lawful.
He described the findings as a defining moment that reshaped his advocacy.
"That was when it dawned on me that atrocities thrive because victims do not know their rights. They believe those abusing them are acting legitimately and within the law."
While the Rights Academy initially focused primarily on human rights education, Henshaw explained that the worsening impacts of climate change and environmental destruction compelled the organisation to redesign its curriculum.
"It is good to fight for human rights, but if you have all the human rights in the world and you do not have a world to live in, then it is a waste of time. That is why we now focus on the intersection between human rights and ecological justice," he said.
The Rights Academy now places equal emphasis on climate justice, environmental rights and civic engagement, encouraging participants to understand how environmental degradation directly affects livelihoods, public health, economic opportunities and human dignity.
Rather than producing activists who merely understand legal concepts, Henshaw said the academy seeks to cultivate practical changemakers capable of initiating community-based solutions.
"We don't want you to simply finish a course and leave. We want you to build your own movement, identify the issue you truly care about and commit yourself to solving it. We are here to support that journey," he added.
He pointed to alumni achievements as evidence of the academy's impact.
According to him, former participants are currently restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems in the Niger Delta, campaigning against taxation on sanitary products, promoting freedom of information, and advocating for oil-polluted communities whose lands and livelihoods continue to suffer the consequences of decades of crude oil exploration.
Among the notable initiatives highlighted was the restoration of over 3,000 mangrove trees to revive damaged wetlands, demonstrating how environmental conservation and human rights advocacy can work hand in hand.
The academy, Henshaw stressed, is intentionally designed to challenge participants intellectually.
"We expect you to learn, unlearn and relearn. We will challenge what you think you know. We will stretch your thinking because social transformation begins when people question assumptions they have always taken for granted."
He also emphasised that the academy encourages respectful engagement with differing viewpoints, creating an environment where difficult conversations around governance, public policy, religion, gender, environmental justice and civic responsibility can take place without fear or prejudice.
Also speaking, Programme Manager of We the People, Grace Apollos described the Rights Academy as an investment in Nigeria's future, noting that young people will bear the greatest burden of today's governance failures and climate crisis if urgent action is not taken.
"The Rights Academy is a unique space created to equip young people to take up human rights and ecological rights advocacy because they are the generation that will live longest with the consequences of today's decisions," she said.
Apollos disclosed that only 20 participants were admitted into the fifth cohort despite receiving well over 100 applications, reflecting both the programme's growing reputation and its commitment to intensive mentorship.
She explained that the curriculum combines physical classes every Saturday with virtual sessions on Wednesdays over a period of approximately three months.
Participants, she said, should expect a learning experience unlike conventional classrooms.
"We accept participants just as they are, but they must be willing to learn, unlearn and relearn. They should prepare for innovative thinking that may challenge long-held beliefs." She concluded.
Responding to questions on whether the academy advocates specific ideological positions, Apollos clarified that the institution is not established to campaign for any particular social agenda.
Instead, she said, its mission is to encourage critical inquiry, evidence-based reasoning and informed public discourse around complex social issues while strengthening participants' understanding of rights, governance and democratic accountability.
The Prefect of the Rights Academy, Jude Edu, described the institution as an "agent of transformation," saying its mission extends beyond classroom instruction to empowering young Nigerians to become community leaders capable of defending both people and the environment.
He noted that graduates of previous cohorts have gone on to establish impactful advocacy initiatives at local, national and international levels.
"Our mandate is simple: empower young people with knowledge so they can take action. We now have alumni restoring mangrove forests, demanding accountability from institutions and advancing environmental and human rights across different sectors." He said.
Edu announced that the fifth cohort would introduce expanded field-based learning, including visits to mangrove ecosystems and correctional facilities to expose participants directly to environmental and human rights realities.
According to him, practical engagement will deepen participants' understanding far beyond theoretical discussions.
The Rights Academy operates under We the People Centre for Social Studies and Development, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation committed to strengthening civic participation, expanding democratic space and promoting environmental and human rights.
As Nigeria grapples with shrinking civic spaces, environmental degradation, climate-induced vulnerabilities and persistent human rights concerns, organisers believe empowering young citizens with knowledge, critical thinking and practical advocacy skills remains one of the country's strongest pathways toward building more accountable institutions and resilient communities.
For the 20 members of Cohort 5, the journey is expected to be more than a training programme. It is intended to become the beginning of a lifelong commitment to defending human dignity, protecting the environment and ensuring that silence no longer shields injustice.
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