Chizelu Emejulu

Chizelu is the founder and Executive Director of Minority Watch. He is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the organization, and for developing collaborative partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012, Chizelu has since become an experienced lawyer and change maker with special interest in challenging unjust systems through Strategic Public Interest Litigation.

Chizelu was part of the legal team that successfully defended the 57 men arraigned in court in 2018 for public display of affection which was punishable under section 4(2) of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA) 2014. He was also part of the legal team that successfully challenged the Federal Government of Nigerian at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on the constitutionality of the provisions of the SSMPA which criminalized the freedom of expression, and the freedom of assembly and association for LGBT persons.

With more than a decade of professional experience in providing expert legal counsel, Chizelu has continually expanded his expertise in rights advocacy through participation in capacity-building programs facilitated by esteemed local and international Human Rights organisations such as the Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs), Bisi Alimi Foundation (BAF), Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), Center for Health Education and Vulnerable Support (CHEVS), and United Edge.