Since the announcement of the demise of Tony Uranta, it’s expected that many would be curious to know who the late activist was or his contribution to the Human Rights community.
Tony Uranta, who died on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, was a Nigerian human rights’ activist and journalist.
Uranta hailed from Opobo in Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. The late activist, who was raised by his mother, grew up to the terrific environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region of the country. The experience groomed him for his iconic role in fighting for environmental justice in the region.
He attended the International School, Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria and Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria. He gained entry into the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, in 1972. In 1976, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Uranta devoted several decades to defending the basic rights of Nigerians through activism and journalism. He founded Corporateman International Company, a media and news company, in 1983.
The late activist did not only fight from the sidelines, but he also took up assignments of enormous national significance. For example, he was a member of the Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Niger Delta between 2008 and 2010. The committee, which was inaugurated by then Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on September 8, 2008, was tasked with making and presenting recommendations that would help the government achieve sustainable development, peace, human and environmental security in the Niger Delta region. This was at the height of a raging conflict in the region.
A major product of the technical committee’s efforts is the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) which has proven to be a success till date. Specifically, the efforts helped to quell militancy in the Niger Delta region.
The late activist did not stop there. His problem-solving skills were again put to use when he was chosen to be part of the 13-member Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue from 2013 to 2014. The committee was mandated to advise the government on the framework of a national dialogue by consulting widely with Nigerians. The committee’s recommendation led to the National Conference that involved about 492 delegates across Nigeria.
The conference, which sought to unite the country and improve its fortunes, passed more than 600 resolutions and produced a 10,335-page report. Although then President Goodluck Jonathan promised to implement them, his failed reelection bid has left the report in limbo.
Apart from Uranta’s efforts to help the government improve the fortunes of Nigerians, he was involved with progressive non-governmental organisations (NGOs) too.
He was the Executive Secretary of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the apex socio-cultural body of the Niger Delta people. Likewise, he was appointed the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in 2012. The NESG, founded in 1994, is a private sector-led think-tank and policy advocacy group based in Nigeria. The group promotes sustainable growth and the development of the Nigerian economy.
Furthermore, Uranta convened the We Care Movement (WCM) in 2018. The WCM was created to help support families of Nigeria’s fallen heroes.
The late journalist gave up the ghost after a long battle with an ailment.
He is survived by his wife Baarong Tony-Uranta, a sport analyst with Channels Television, and children. He was 67.
