Felix Morka biography, wikipedia, age and career
Felix Morka biography, wikipedia, age and career
Felix Morka is a Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer who has spent his career fighting for justice and the rule of law in his home country. He is the founder and executive director of the Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC), a non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect human rights, particularly the rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
Morka was born in Enugu, Nigeria, in 1956, and grew up in a family that was active in politics and social justice issues. His father, Patrick Morka, was a prominent politician who served in the Nigerian parliament and was a strong advocate for the rights of workers and farmers.
Morka studied law at the University of Lagos, where he became involved in student activism and worked to promote human rights on campus. After graduating in 1980, he worked as a lawyer in private practice before founding SERAC in 1995.
Under Morka’s leadership, SERAC has become one of the most respected and effective human rights organizations in Nigeria. The organization works on a wide range of issues, including access to justice, environmental justice, economic and social rights, and the rights of women and children.
One of SERAC’s most notable achievements was its role in securing a landmark judgment in the case of SERAC v. Nigeria before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The case, which was filed by SERAC in 2001, challenged the Nigerian government’s failure to protect the rights of residents of the Niger Delta region who were being harmed by oil pollution and other environmental damage caused by multinational oil companies. In 2001, the African Commission found that Nigeria had violated its citizens’ rights and ordered the government to take action to address the environmental damage and compensate the affected communities.
Morka has also been involved in other high-profile human rights cases in Nigeria, including the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and environmental activist who was executed by the Nigerian government in 1995. Morka was part of the legal team that represented Saro-Wiwa in his trial and subsequent appeals, and he has continued to work on environmental justice issues in the Niger Delta region.
In addition to his work with SERAC, Morka has served on a number of national and international bodies that promote human rights and the rule of law. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Reebok Human Rights Award and the Goldman Environmental Prize.
Morka’s tireless advocacy for human rights has made a significant impact on the lives of millions of Nigerians, particularly those who are marginalized and vulnerable. His work has helped to promote accountability and transparency in government, and has contributed to the development of a more just and equitable society in Nigeria.