African leaders urged to balance investment with human rights

UN independent expert Prof. Damilola Olawuyi has urged African leaders to strike a balance between investment and human rights during the 5th Africa Forum on Business and Human Rights in Dakar, Senegal. The expert, speaking at the high-level plenary address, emphasized that while trade and investment are vital for economic growth, they should not come at the cost of human rights and environmental sustainability.

Olawuyi highlighted the importance of adopting a rights-based approach to investment and economic development, particularly in the context of rapid technological advancements such as the expansion of data centres and the digital economy. He called for governments, investors, and businesses to conduct human rights due diligence in investment decision-making and to encourage homegrown solutions to Africa's development challenges.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.