Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi (SAN) has called on leaders in government, business and development sectors across Africa to accelerate measurable progress towards accountable and sustainable supply chains, in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, UNGPs.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is also the global vice chair of the International Law Association, made these remarks in Nairobi, Kenya during his high-level keynote address at the 2nd Edition of the East and Horn of Africa Business and Human Rights Dialogue, convened by DanChurchAid, DCA, in partnership with the United Nations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and other regional partners.
Themed “Beyond Compliance: Strengthening Accountable and Rights-Centred Supply Chains in East and Horn of Africa” the sub-regional forum brought together East African leaders, development experts, business enterprises, civil society, and academia to explore how to promote and ensure responsible investments in all key economic sectors.
The Forum featured high level speakers, including representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, United Nations Development Program, UNDP, UN Global Compact, UNICEF, African Union, African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Network of National African Human Rights Institutions, amongst other dignitaries.
While exploring progress made in addressing adverse human rights impacts of business activities and investments in key economic sectors, Olawuyi called on African businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to move beyond policy awareness to real and measurable implementation, by embedding human rights due diligence throughout their supply chains and business relationships, including their investment decisions and procurement practices. He emphasised that with increased adoption of right-based legislation across the world, including the European Union’s Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, CS3D, it is crystal clear that African businesses that fail to respond risk being left behind in a rapidly changing right-based global economy.
According to him: “Africa is rising as the hub for new investments in critical minerals, infrastructure, agribusiness and green technologies.
“At the same time, as we have heard at this Forum, local communities, Indigenous groups, and marginalised stakeholders want a prosperous Africa that embeds Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices across our supply chains, especially in the sourcing, production, and distribution of natural resources and fast moving consumer goods.
“No one wants tea, coffee or even critical minerals sourced from exploitative value chains. So this is not only about compliance, but also about responding to growing consumer demand for green and responsibly sourced products.
“We therefore call on all States and businesses across the continent to step up their commitment to green and sustainable growth, a development approach that delivers measurable economic growth that is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.”
While commending the governments of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Liberia and Ghana for being the first few African countries to have adopted National Actions Plans on Business and Human Rights, he called for accelerated action to transform growing commitments on business and human rights to measurable progress.
Highlighting the need for increased knowledge mobilisation and information sharing, Olawuyi noted that leveraging technology and digital platforms to track, monitor, report and address human rights risks across supply chains will be crucial.
The UN expert then called on states and business to provide more financial and technical support to youth innovators, digital entrepreneurs, higher education institutions, national human rights institutions, and civil society organisations across the continent to continue their important work on promoting education and awareness on ethical and right-based investments that dismantle work-place inequalities and advance sustainable development in our societies.
As Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Olawuyi is expected to deliver a report to the UN Human Rights Council at its 62nd session scheduled to hold in Geneva, Switzerland from 15 June – 7 July 2026, on progress made and challenges that remain on business respect for human rights in key economic sectors, countries and regions.
