On Friday, April 12th, 2024, ICCEF and CLEEN Foundation proudly hosted the 2nd edition of the Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Annual Impact and Legacy Lecture series. The event which took place at Yar A’dua Centre Abuja was a resounding success as it attracted distinguished personalities, government officials, and thought leaders to reflect on the enduring legacy of Innocent Chukwuma and explore the theme of “The Power of One: Dreams & Nightmares: Thoughts on Innocent Chukwuma”. The Guest Lecturer was the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto State, His Grace Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, a renowned and tireless advocate for social justice, good governance, democracy and human development. Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; the former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Adeleye Fayemi; Mr. Oliver Stolpe of UNODC; Dr Oby Ezekwesili (joined virtually); Dr. Kole Shettima of McArthur Foundation; Mrs Kemi Okenyodo of Partners West Africa; Mr. Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa; representatives of some financial institutions (GT Bank, Zenith Bank, and Afrinvest) and members of the Board of CLEEN Foundation & ICCEF.
The event kicked of with the Chairman of CLEEN Foundation, Prof Abubakar Mua’zu giving the Opening Remarks. On behalf of the Boards of CLEEN & ICCEF, he welcomed all, and expressed his happiness at the hosting of the 2nd edition of the lecture in honour of Innocent, a man of many parts, who meant different things to many people. One common denominator being IMPACT and LEGACY.
Goodwill messages were given by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Solomon Arase; the former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi; the UNODC Nigerian Represenative Mr. Oliver Stolpe; and the event’s financial partners – GT Bank, Zenith Bank and Afrinvest.
In her Welcome Remarks, the Executive Chair of ICCEF and Trustee of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma (Innocent’s widow), reflected on the legacy of her husband. She described him as “an ideas man” and a serial entrepreneur who had the Midas touch. She highlighted how the Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Annual Impact & Legacy Lecture Series, came to be, with the maiden edition taking place last year (2023). She stated that ICCEF & CLEEN Foundation conceived the idea of the annual lecture in order to preserve the memory of Innocent.
Mrs. Effah-Chukwuma stated that the lecture series aim to inspire, educate, and encourage Nigerians, particularly the youths, on the importance of living an impactful life, and leaving a lasting legacy. She outlined the objectives of the series, including fostering dialogue on governance issues, promoting evidence-based policymaking, and strengthening citizen participation in national discourse. She expressed her appreciation to the inaugural Guest Lecturer, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; and the Guest Lecture for the second edition, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah.
Soon after Mrs. Effah-Chukwuma’s remarks, the Guest Speaker was introduced and welcomed to the stage. His Grace, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, and a renowned social justice crusader delivered a stirring lecture that captivated both the physical and virtual attendees. Citing renowned individuals across the globe such as Pope John Paul, Malala Yousafzai, Ayatolah Khomeni, and others, Bishop Kukah said Innocent like these persons impacted his world. Innocent according to Bishop Kukah “did not say I am just one person, I can’t do much. He stood up and made meaningful, innovative and pivotal contributions to Nigeria, Africa and the world. I remember the very first book on police abuse in Nigeria published by Civil Liberties Organization titled Above the Law, it was written by Innocent Chukwuma”.
Bishop Kukah emphasized the importance of making impactful contributions to society, regardless of age, religion, gender or location. According to him, “Ours is a life of sacrifice irrespective of your faith. This Innocent exemplified. Power of one is about how you are able to use power for good or for bad. It’s an individual choice. The Power of one is about making huge sacrifices even at the cost of your life. Innocent made huge sacrifices. From Innocent we have learnt that it is better to light a candle than dwell in darkness. No one should think he or she is too rich to give or too poor to give. Therein lies the power of one.”
The lecture was followed by an engaging panel session featuring Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo of Partners West Africa and Dr. Kole Shettima of MacArthur Foundation anchored by Mr Stanley Ibe. Their insights added depth to the discussions and provided valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the Nigerian society and the role of individuals and organizations (especially civil society groups).
The lecture came to an end with Closing Remarks by the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Gad Peter. He thanked the Guest Lecturer and all guests for attending and encouraged all to reflect deeply on the insights gained from the lecture and the panel discussion; and through that be inspired to be one persons determined and committed to bringing about change and building a more just, equitable, and empowered society.
ICCEF and CLEEN Foundation are grateful to our financial partners – Afrinvest, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank for their support towards this year’s annual lecture. As we anticipate the third (3rd) edition in 2025, 3rd series, we encourage everyone to engage the power of one.
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