A non-governmental anti-corruption group, Anti-Corruption, and Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI) has nominated some Governors, Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for various leadership merit awards.
El-Rufai was nominated for 2018 ARDI media award of excellence in ‘Leadership Role Model,’ while Bello would receive the award on ‘Security Innovation’ and Emefiele, ‘Strategic Financial Reforms.’
Announcing this in a statement in Abuja, ARDI Executive Secretary, Chief Dennis Aghanya, explained that the awards, which was in its second edition, would hold at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja in August.
The statement explained that a public lecture titled, ‘Fighting corruption in a multi-dimensional society’ would be presented by the former Senior Assistant to the President on Justice Sector Reform, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu.
ARDI, which masterminded the petition that led to the suspension and subsequent conviction of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen for misconduct, stated that the nominations were in recognition of “the contributions of the nominees in the fight against corruption.”
Other nominees include the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for ‘Police Capacity Building, a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, ‘Infrastructural Development’ awards while ex-Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, would bag an award for ‘Justice Sector Reforms.’
The Publisher, Daily Trust Newspaper, Kabir Yusuf, was nominated for ‘Media Proprietor of the Year’ award while a PUNCH senior correspondent, Adelani Adepegba, was nominated for ‘Reporter of the Year’ award, among others