Young Dancers Demonstrate Skills At Abuja Human Rights Fiesta

A group of young dancers ranging from 12 years to 23 years old held the audience at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Exhibition Pavilion spell bound with their dance steps as they gyrated to the rythm of various musical genres.

The group of 8 young dancers wowed the audience which included guests from the business, politics and government sectors.

Youths were also well represented at the event.

The event, which held at Area 10, Abuja on Thursday was jointly organized by the Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day slated for Friday.

The leader of the dance team known as “The Great Mind Academy,” Lawrence J.,explained how he came into dancing.

He said he was faced with peer pressures to go into drugs and other social vices but was saved when he discovered his dancing talent.

He explained that it was when he realized his dancing skills and the joy he derived from it, that he started to develop himself and escape from getting into drugs.

After their impressive stage performance, Lawrence told our correspondent that his Senior Secondary School educational qualification opened a window of opportunity to go far in life through dancing and by teaching same to little children.

He added that he was able to get the young ones in his team together because they too found dancing to be exciting.

“We are two years old in dancing.

“If you see young people and don’t catch them young, they will be distracted.

“Dancing is joyful and they enjoy it.

“They are not my family members but I love children and when I see them I love to impart them.

“We are trying to refine their talents,” he said adding that he was optimistic of getting support to further his aspirations for the group.

Earlier, the Executive Director of CASER, Barrister Frank Tietie, emphasized the need for every Nigerian to know their rights which are 40 in number, including the right to adequate food and freedom of expression.

He said that the concept of human rights violations happens when people are not treated equally.

He urged relevant stakeholders to continue with the message of protecting and promoting human rights in Nigeria.

“In human rights community, there is freedom, liberty and equality,” he said.

In his welcome address, CASER Chairman, Gbenga Onayiga, said on the issue of human rights, the Nigerian government and it’s agencies need to observe them.

“The problem is that many don’t know their rights; by the time you know and assert your rights through legal means and other ways, the nation will be better,” he said.

At an award ceremony for retired staff of the NHRC, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN) urged stakeholders to keep “raising the bar of human rights in their various schedule of duties.”