Accountability Lab Nigeria has honoured five exceptional public servants with its 2024 Integrity Icons Award in promoting integrity, trust, and positive behavioral change in Nigeria’s public service.
The awardees of the 2024 Integrity Icons Award are: Inspector Kamoshi Tada from Fagge Police Station, Kano State; Olugbenga Johnson Kuye of the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre (LASAEC); Ezekiel Osemuahu of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency; Temitope Ojoge of Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Ondo State; and Idowu Quadri, serving with the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Agency (LCDA), Lagos State.
Speaking at the 8th edition of the Integrity Icon Summit held in Abuja, the Country Director of Accountability Lab, Mr. Odeh Friday, explained that the awardees were chosen from over 2,500 nominations submitted by Nigerians. The event was organized in partnership with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, and the Yar’Adua Foundation.
According to Odeh, Accountability Lab is unwavering in its mission to “name and fame” individuals who uphold honesty, accountability, and responsible leadership in a nation struggling with widespread corruption and a lack of transparency.
“We are here today to celebrate amazing public servants who are doing the right thing—exceptionally well—to build trust between citizens and their government offices. Today, the Integrity Icon names and fames them.
For over eight years, we have been building a network of public servants with integrity—people who embody the right behaviors and norms to enhance trust in public service. By celebrating these icons, we aim to inspire hope among Nigerians and show that governance can indeed work for citizens.
It’s also about ensuring accurate data reporting, proper procurement practices, and transparency in community projects. These actions build trust in government institutions, and that is why citizens, not us, nominate the icons. We review over 2,500 nominations to ensure their stories meet our criteria.”
The keynote speaker, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), lamented the low trust Nigerians have in their government. Citing a report, he noted that only 43% of Nigerians express trust in governance, a gap he attributed to corruption, lack of transparency, poor service delivery, and broken promises.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Building Trust in Governance Processes: The Power of Ethical Behaviors and Positive Norms,’ Dr. Igbuzor stated:
“The trust deficit has profound implications, from political instability and economic downturns to weakened social cohesion. For instance, this deficit has triggered protests and uprisings, such as in Sudan (2019), Sri Lanka (2022), and the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria (2020).”
He proposed several practical measures to rebuild trust, including: strengthening governance institutions to enforce ethical standards, promoting inclusive governance to address the diverse needs of society, building capacity for ethical leadership, leveraging technology for accountability, and recognizing and rewarding integrity.
Dr. Igbuzor emphasized:
“Rebuilding trust in governance is both an urgent necessity and a collective responsibility. Ethical behaviors and positive norms form the cornerstone of trustworthy governance, fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.
As we celebrate these individuals of integrity, let their example serve as a call to all leaders and institutions to prioritize ethical conduct. Restoring trust is not just about institutional reforms; it’s about restoring hope and confidence in leadership and creating a system where citizens feel represented and valued.”
