The Chief Executive Officer of Freightliner Logistics Limited, Dr Chris Atu has called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to integrate teachings that instill a culture of integrity at all educational levels, starting from early childhood.
Atu stated this in his address after being conferred with the honour of “Integrity Man of the Year Award 2024” by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists during its 2024 annual conference tagged, “Integrity is Everything”, in Lagos.
Atu, said, “Incorporating Integrity teachings early in life will inculcate an innate habit of honesty in family, community, private and public life, thereby limiting tendencies for corrupt practices and enhancing accountability and quality public service delivery and leadership.”
According to a statement, the distinguished honour acknowledged Atu’s unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, moral principles, and exceptional character.
The Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists stated that Atu was honoured with the Integrity Award for his exemplary standards of integrity, accountability, and transparency in private sector leadership within the logistics service industry.
Atu noted that imbibing cultures of integrity early in life would help the country mitigate the malaise of corruption currently bedeviling the nation, as honest leadership will propel Nigeria to unimaginable growth and exponential development sought by many.
“I recommend that the Ministry of Internal Affairs establish a dedicated commission to work with the Ministry of Education to develop a program on integrity, beginning from nursery school through university. Teaching integrity as we were taught rules and laws can prevent the passive upbringing that has led us astray. If we don’t begin building integrity within family units now, we risk losing our national values entirely,” Atu mentioned.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists, Charles Okhai, said the award is to recognise individuals who have distinguished themselves in contributing to their fatherland and also to draw attention and intervention to help eradicate corruption as there are still people doing things the right way.
“One of the major problems we have as a nation is the lack of integrity and patriotism, especially in leadership. So, we came up with the idea of having an annual lecture on integrity and then recognizing people who seem to have demonstrated that spirit in their places of responsibility of leadership to encourage them not to falter but to do more” Okhai said.
The keynote speaker, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, (rtd) said that integrity is the bedrock of any developed nation, which is lacking in Nigeria.
Adefope-Okojie mentioned that leaders and public officeholders must be men and women of integrity who would make decisions to benefit everyone, not just a select few, and that integrity should be a family value that should be cherished by all.
“It doesn’t matter who the person is, or where they are from. They should be people of integrity who can help us dig out corruption from this country” “ she concluded.
Also speaking during the occasion, one of the recipients of the “Integrity Man of The Year Award 2024, and former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, stressed the need for effective resource management, ethical conduct, and a commitment to meritocracy.
