It was a day of celebration and deep reflection at the Multipurpose Hall of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation on Tuesday the 21st of May, 2024, as 48 Nigerians, who have distinguished themselves in living lives of integrity and taking a strong stand repeatedly for the virtue, were celebrated in an award ceremony. The ceremony was the culmination of the process of identifying, profiling, investigating, interviewing and documenting the exploits of these exceptional Nigerians as they live out lives of integrity in all that they do.
The 48 awardees are men and women, both Christians and Muslims, who noted the great impact of their parents, teachers and religious influences on them, keeping them on track and helping them to build personalities which are known for the values of Honesty, Integrity and Accountability. These exceptional Nigerians are from various walks of human endeavour and they include, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, a magistrate, lawyers, media personalities, civil servants, human rights activists, administrators, private sector functionaries, journalists, humanitarians, entreprenuers, a farmer, a vulcanizer, among others. The spread shows that there are many Nigerians from various walks of human endeavour who are living fantastic lives of integrity.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, commended the awardees for distinguishing themselves and for being beacons of light for everyone in the Nigerian society to look at and emulate. He noted that each of them mentioned – without prompting – the impact of their religious beliefs and practices in their stand for integrity in all their dealings. He congratulated the awardees and charged them to consciously take up the task of educating and mentoring young Nigerians to also follow the path of honest-living in all their endeavours.
Also speaking at the event was the Deputy Director of the MacArthur Foundation, Nigeria office, Dr. Amina Salihu. She expressed her joy at the caliber of people who had been identified as Models of Integrity in Nigeria. She also commended the awardees for their efforts which brought them the recognition from the Lux Terra Foundation. There were also goodwill messages from the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, represented by the Ag. Director Public Enlightenment & Education and Spokesman of the Commission, Mr Demola Bakare, fsi, both conveyed the goodwill of their principals and congratulated the awardees on the recognition given them.
In the course of the award ceremony, the awardees had time to share their experiences and motivation with all present. One of such stories is that of 84 year-old Prof. Funso Oluyitan, Founder and Executive Director of the Association of Nigerians against Corruption (ANAC), who took a personal pledge to maintain a life of integrity from the age of 17 and has so far kept true to the pledge. There were other fascinating stories which include those of Mrs. Josephine Ugwu who had at a number of times returned huge sums of money lost at the Lagos airport and Mr. Abubakar Baba, a vulcaniser who many acknowledged to be someone who treated his customers equally and would never cheat them despite not being a wealthy man.
The awardees expressed their appreciation to the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation for the recognition given them. Many of them noted that it was the most significant award they had ever received and that it means so much to them because it represents something so dear to them. Many also noted that it was the first time they were being recognised and awarded for being persons of integrity. They mentioned that it will spur them on to not only do better but to also mentor young Nigerians to tow the path of integrity.
Lux Terra Leadership Foundation has produced a video documentary about each of the 48 Models of Integrity which are available on our Youtube Channel (https://rb.gy/me7eiu). Also, booklets were produced on these Models of Integrity and they can be found on our website (www.ltleadership.org/publications).
