Five public servants have been selected for award under the ‘Integrity Icon’ project, organised by the Accountability Lab Nigeria.
Nominated for the 2019 edition of the awards, which according to the organizers is the third in a row include Kacheilom Betram Roberts-Ndukwe, a teacher at GSS Andoni in Rivers state; CSP Francis Erhabor, a Police Officer serving at Itam, Akwa Ibom state; Tina Odinakachi Iirmdu, a lecturer at the University of Jos; Christian Ahiauzu, an ICT unit head at the University of Port Harcourt; and Tani Ali Nimlan, an assistant director at NAFDAC.
A statement by communication officer of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mr. Prince Chimaroke, made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja, explained that voting to crown the overall Integrity Icon of 2019 is currently ongoing, through which the public can nominate their favourite icon among the nominees, via www.integrityicon.org/vote, as the crowning ceremony is billed for Tuesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, after the annual summit on Monday.
He explained that Integrity Icon was “a national campaign led by Accountability Lab Nigeria with support from Luminate and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, aimed at identifying and celebrating the country’s most honest government officials”, adding that lack of integrity has remained one of Nigeria’s challenges, with citizens often feeling helpless to do anything about it.
“The value of Integrity Icon is in the process of changing the narrative around issues of integrity and corruption. It is a way to create positive conversations about what it means to be a public servant, what the role of the Nigerian government is, and how we should think about an inclusive and fair society”, the statement quoted country director of Accountability Lab, Friday Odeh on the merits of the project.
Also, monitoring and evaluation officer of the group, Omojo Adaji said the programme will “offer an opportunity for Nigerians to know that there are still persons of integrity in the Nigerian public service, and this will go a long way in igniting the hopes of many who have lost hope in the governance system”.
The organisers explained further that nominations are already open for the 2020 Integrity Icon campaign, and can be made through https://cutt.ly/iin2020, adding that the project was principally designed to “name and fame” honest public servants.
