Follow Us on Google
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Five individuals, namely, CSP Mathias Nuhu: (Akwa-lbom Police Command, Safer Highway Patrol); Mrs. Oluwashola Shobayo (Lagos State Office of Internal Audit); Mr. Kumafan Dzaan (Benue State Bureau of Statistics BSBS); Mrs. Ann Ejuile Itodo (Government Senior Secondary School Apo, Abuja); and Col. I.A Manga: (Nigerian Army, FC.T) have been named and famed as the winners of the 2025 Intergity Icon Award.
The award was presented to the awardees at an event held in Abuja, on Thursday, and was attended by representatives from the government, security agencies, and other public and private organisations, as well as friends and family members of the awardees.
The fiive individuals were selected through a rigorous and transparent selection process from a pool of over 300 entries that was received across the country.
Friday Odeh, the Country Director, Accountability Lab Nigeria, in his welcome remarks said, “this is about recognition with purpose. What we choose to celebrate in our society defines who we are, what our public institutions become and the kind of society we want. In a recent survey, we noticed, when integrity is ignored, ethical public servants are isolated. When integrity is named and famed, it becomes the standard.
“Over the years, Accountability Lab Nigeria, in partnership with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has implemented the Integrity Icon program to shift accountability away from fear and punishment and toward incentives, norms, and results.
“Integrity Icon is a deliberate ‘name and fame’ campaign to give hope to everyday Nigerians that we still have public servants doing the right thing. We identify public servants whose choices under pressure produced evident outcomes for citizens, and we make those choices visible by telling their stories.”
He stated that Nigeria’s accountability challenge is not the absence of rules, laws or policies. “At Accountability Lab, we believe it is the absence of recognition and support for ethical and responsible leadership.
“Our dominant approaches as seen every day in the media, Nigeria focuses on corruption rather than integrity, sanctions rather than incentives, and institutions rather than behavior. The result is predictable. Honest public servants stand alone, good conduct goes unrewarded, and trust remains fragile.
“Hemce, Integrity Icon offers a different perspective. Citizens nominate. Evidence is verified. Impact is measured. Stories are told and amplified. While we have identified these Icons, Integrity is treated as performance, not personality. This is how recognition strengthens accountability. When integrity is visible unlike the news of corrupt public officials, it shifts incentives, influences peers, friends and family members. and resets expectations across institutions. That is how trust is built!
“Integrity is measurable. We measure it through decisions current and previous Icons have made under pressure, resistance to wrongdoing able to distinguish what this means with politicians! Integrity is also rewarding. Not consistency of conduct, and the tangible results citizens experience we have been only through public recognition, but through continued engagement, peer learning. and institutional reform through the Integrity Innovation Lab.
“Our message here is that Integrity is not exceptional. It is a professional and personal standard. It can be named, rewarded, tracked, and protected. When integrity becomes the norm and everyday behaviour, performance improves, trust grows, and governance works for and delivers results for people.”
The Director General of BPSR, Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, in his remarks, appreciated the leadership and team of Accountability Lab Nigeria, civil society actors, development partners, members of the media, and the distinguished awardees who embody the very spirit of integrity that earned the award.
He stated that the Integrity Icon campaign has become one of the most credible citizen-centered accountability platforms in Nigeria, one that does not merely identify good public servants, but elevates and celebrates them in ways that inspire institutional change, behavioural reorientation, and renewed public confidence.
“Today’s gathering is significant for several reasons. First, it reminds us that integrity is not just a moral expectation; it is a governance imperative. In an era where public trust is increasingly strained, initiatives such as this play a pivotal role in demonstrating that accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership are not only achievable but thriving within our institutions. As a country, we need narratives that highlight what is working, and public servants who represent the ideals we collectively aspire to.
“For us at the BPSR, integrity is central to our mandate to drive reforms that make government more effective, efficient, citizen-centered, and performance-oriented. We are deliberate about strengthening systems that prevent corruption, reduce discretion, and institutionalize fairness and professionalism in service delivery. Whether through our Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), report-based reforms, service improvement strategies, or the ongoing work on digital transformation, the BPSR continues to champion reforms that place integrity at the heart of governance.
“This is why we value our partnership with Accountability Lab and other like-minded institutions who believe, as strongly as we do, that ethical leadership is the currency of sustainable development. The Integrity Icon Summit aligns perfectly with our long-term vision of institutionalizing meritocracy, rewarding hard work, and promoting exemplary public service behaviour across MDAs,” he said.
He congratulated all nominees and winners of this year’s Integrity Icon Awards. “You have distinguished yourselves within your organizations by choosing the difficult yet honorable path, the path of honesty, transparency, fairness, professionalism, and true patriotism.
“In a system where cutting corners often seems easier, you have shown that it is possible to stand firmly by the values that define a credible and trustworthy public institution. Your recognition today is not simply an award; it is a public affirmation that your character and conduct matter deeply to the future of our nation.
“To the wider public service community, I hope today serves as a powerful reminder that every decision we take, no matter how small, shapes the reputation of our institutions and the confidence of citizens in their government. Integrity must, therefore, not be treated as optional but embraced as a fundamental obligation.
“We all have a role to play in building a Nigeria where public resources are safeguarded, public trust is restored, and public institutions work efficiently for all. As we reflect, celebrate, and commit once again to ethical governance, I want to assure our partners and stakeholders that BPSR remains fully committed to supporting initiatives that reinforce accountability, enhance transparency, and reward excellence.
“Together, we will continue to advance reforms that strengthen institutions, improve service delivery, and ensure that integrity becomes a defining feature of Nigeria’s governance landscape,”he promised.
