By Jennifer Yusuf
The integrity Icons accountability lab has announced 5 finalist for the 2019 integrity Icon award.
The Integrity Icon is a global campaign run by citizens in search of honest government officials. It aims to generate debates around the idea of integrity and demonstrate the importance of honesty and personal responsibility.
The unveiling of the 2019 finalists took place at the Swedish Embassy in Abuja in an event that drew major stakeholders of the Integrity Icon project.
The five finalists for the 2019 Integrity Icon campaign are: Kacheilom Betram-Roberts Ndukwe, CSP. Francis Erhabor, Tina Odinakachi Iirmdu, Christian Ngozi Ahiauzu and Tani Ali Nimlan
Sam Emenogu, Programme Officer at Accountability Lab Nigeria said during the event that there are still persons of integrity in the Nigerian civil service and that the campaign seeks to drive conversations between the media, civil society organizations (CSOs), the government and citizens about integrity in the workplace.
Also speaking the Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, said Nigeria needed civil service heroes to look up to. “We need people to stand up and take action”, noting that national development requires all stakeholders to commit to building a nation we are all proud to live in.
On his part the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Carl-Michael Grans observed that “What you do as an Integrity Icon is really crucial for a successful government in any country” he said that spreading democracy was a top priority for the Swedish government and that “promoting accountability, transparency and fighting corruption is really key for democratic development.”
The Integrity Icon campaign is currently in its third year, the campaign has identified a total of fifteen Integrity Icons across the Nigerian civil service who are shining examples of what it means to be an upright public official.
The Integrity Icon Nigeria summit and Awards Ceremony is slated for January 20th and 21st, 2020.
The campaign is currently active in Pakistan, Nepal, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, and Mexico.
Integrity Icon Nigeria is sponsored by the Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, and Open Society Foundations.
