NSA, Ribadu, Prince Onuwaje, EFCC Chairman others get integrity awards in Lagos

By Samuel Ogunsona

The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, Chairman, Emirate Logistics Prince Onuwaje, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC) are some of the distinguished Nigerians offered International Awards for integrity on Wednesday.

The awards held at the Airport Hotel in Lagos drew a record crowd of more than 1000 people from across the country.

The award was organised by the Nigerian Human Rights Community, NHRC, the largest coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria made of 135 community and civil society groups.

Other recipients of the award are the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Nigerian Students Loan Fund, (NEFUND) Mr Akintunde Sawyerr and the Lagos Civilian Joint Task Force, (CJTF).

Speaking at the event,the EFCC Chairman Olukoyede said he was impressed by the quality of the award while expressing appreciation to the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) for recognising the contributions of the EFCC to the campaign against corruption.

The Chairman, Emirate Logistics Prince Onuwaje was recognised for his commitment and professionalism in the protection and safeguard of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta. He was also recognised for his philanthropy which is second to none in the Niger- Delta.

“Mr Onuwaje is one of the finest philanthropists in Nigeria. He gives to widows, students and hundreds of communities in the Niger Delta irrespective of their ethnic origin” former President of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners Association, Mr Abiodun Abe said while reading his citation. He was said to have provided rare intelligence, coordination and effective monitoring of pipelines in the Niger Delta to stabilise oil production in the Nigerian oil rich communities.

“We say without contradictions that National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Ribadu has left an enduring footprint in the sand of time. We also recognise the distinguished contributions of Emirate Logistics led by Prince Onuwaje in oil pipeline protection and the promotion of effective oil production in the Niger Delta,” the organisers said.

The group said Ribadu since assumption of office has tackled issues of economic, political and social insecurity. The community said Ribadu’s effective coordination has helped increase Nigeria’s oil output.

The NHRC said the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) for instance has had the opportunity of producing efficient Chairman, to a very large extent adding that Olokoyede has distingushed himself.

“We have also had an efficient and effective leadership at the NAFDAC at least when Mrs Dora Akunyili was in charge. These are striking examples that if replicated across all board in Nigeria, the country would take greater leap beyond her current status. We need to encourage such people wherever we find them.

“Today, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) has taken the right step to recognise a very few individuals that we think have rekindled the dimming hope of Nigerians. These awards for them are not from multinational companies,or from rich caucuses, but from community based groups, civil society organisations showing their support for these few individuals and the institutions they represent in order to encourage them and ensure that they do more to lift up Nigeria to greater honour and glory.
We also look forward to more practical engagement between the civil society organisations, artisans, the community based groups across the country and these strategic institutions in our collective drive for a better and prosperous Nigeria.”

Komolafe was appointed in 2021, and he currently serves as the pioneer chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.

He served at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in various capacities including as group general manager, Special Duties, group general manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division and executive director (commercial) Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC). He is credited for formulating several strategic policies including electronic tracking of petroleum products distribution nationwide.

On April 5, 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Sawyerr as the first Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the administration of student loans aimed at facilitating access to higher education for Nigerian youths.