About the Founder

Comrade Uchenna Umez

National Coordinator, Human Rights Research and Advocacy Forum (HURRAFORUM) | Legal & Human Rights Advocate | Associate, NICArb | Author

Comrade Uchenna Umez holds an LLB degree and is a distinguished two-time recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Annual Essay Competition Award for the Faculty of Law at the National Open University of Nigeria. He is currently awaiting the results of two advanced degrees: an LLM in Constitutional and Human Rights Law from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and an MSc in Criminology and Security Studies from the National Open University of Nigeria. His academic pursuits have significantly deepened his understanding of the intersections between law, human rights, and security issues.

He is also a certified Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, a credential that underscores his expertise in analytical thinking and dispute resolution.

Professional Experience

For over 13 years, Comrade Umez has served as the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Research and Advocacy Forum (HURRAFORUM), where he has led numerous initiatives aimed at promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria. His leadership in this role reflects his strengths in strategic planning, conflict resolution, partnership building, and policy advocacy.

He is also the Proprietor of Human Rights College, a primary and junior secondary school in Nigeria, where he has demonstrated excellence in educational management, project coordination, and community engagement. He has successfully organized several human rights workshops, conferences, and public awareness campaigns.

Through visits to nine African countries across English and French-speaking regions, Comrade Umez has developed a broad, cross-cultural perspective that enhances his capacity to collaborate with diverse stakeholders. These experiences have cultivated in him a strong sense of continental and global citizenship, empathy, adaptability, and a commitment to international cooperation and solidarity.

Publications

Comrade Umez is the author of Uhuru Children’s Rights, a widely respected textbook approved by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) for use in civic education in basic schools. This publication reflects his unwavering commitment to advancing children’s rights and civic awareness from the grassroots level.

Contribution: POWERS, AUTHORITY AND CHALLENGES OF THE JUDICATURE IN NIGERIA (2025) (Essays in Honour of Hon. Sir Justice Biobele A. Georgewill, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division), with the chapter titled “Constitutional Guarantees of Judicial Independence in Nigeria” (Chapter 5, pp. 107–126). The volume edited by the former Dean of the Faculty of Law, NSUK, Prof. Suleiman I. Nchi.

Vision and Commitment

Throughout his career, Comrade Umez has consistently demonstrated an unyielding dedication to peace, justice, and the protection of human dignity. His professional and academic journey reflects a passion for public service and a strategic approach to advancing human rights through research, education, and advocacy.

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