Gani Fawehinmi integrity awards holds in Lagos on Monday

In its bid to promote anti-corruption campaign and inspire generations, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) will on Monday in Lagos hold the maiden edition of Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards.

HEDA said the award is in recognition of individuals who promote honour, integrity and who also stand tall in the crusade against corruption in Nigeria, a country said to lose billions of naira to graft and financial crimes every year.

The award was instituted by HEDA in memory of the late anti-corruption icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who was born on April 22, 1938 but died of lung cancer on September 8, 2009.

He was arguably the most incarcerated Nigerian on account of his fearless battles for good governance and transparency.

In a statement issued yesterday, HEDA Chairman, Mr Lanre Suraj, said the Impact and Integrity Awards are borne out of the desire to celebrate outstanding Nigerians who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and citizenship.

The Awards in three categories are for people in any area of human endeavors that earn recognition for Outstanding Integrity Award (OIA), Outstanding Impact Award (OIA) and Whistles Blower Award (WBA).

Recipients for the three categories of awards for the maiden edition emerged following the decision of a wide spectrum of Nigerians who responded to HEDA’s call for nomination spanning a period of more than two months beginning from September when the nomination was launched in the mainstream and social media.

He said at the close of nomination on October 10, 123 entries were received for the two categories of the Awards respectively as 114 entries for Outstanding Integrity and Impact Awards (OIA) and nine entries for Whistles Blower Award (WBA).

Mr Suraj said over the years, Nigeria has faced dwindling fortunes in global anti-corruption rating.

He said: “The negative image our dear country has acquired is no doubt symptomatic of the deep-rooted integrity-deficit and culture of impunity that pervade every sphere of our national life.”

He stated further that the ugly scenario of corruption and integrity-deficit could better be imagined when searchlight is beamed on daily activities in both the public and private sectors.