The need to build strong institutions as a means of growth and development has been emphasized. Oby Ezeiwesili made the call during the memorial of Late Innocent Chkwuemeka Chukwuma held in Abuja.
In recognition of his contribution to building strong institutions and to immortalize his good works, associates friends and family of Innocent Chkwuemeka chukwuma gathered for the opening of the new CLEEN foundation office and second year memorial annual impact and legacy lecture in his honor.
The lecture which took place 10 May 2023 in Abuja had in attendance the likes of Oby Ezeiwesili, the former inspector general of police Solomon Arase represented by the permanent secretary police service commission, representatives from the Lagos business community and other dignataries.
.In her keynote address Oby Ezeiwesili former Minister of education, highlights attributes of the late Innocent Chukwuma some of which she listed as competence and capacity on a foundation of character in building institutions and said fundamentally we must celebrate what he represents to us
According to her, he was” a man who really epitomized excellence and dedicated his life of passion to building systems and processes but he did not think of systems and processes as stand alone social constructs”He understood the nexus between individuals and institutions”.
She cited a theory that says having a set of practices that govern how society runs enhances legitimacy and stressed the importance of building institutions which she said is responsible for the development in civilized nations adding that this will prevent the subversion of the orderly way of doing things irrespective of the passage of time and changes in individuals.
She lamented that Nigeria is an anti-intellectual society and warned that if this continues we will have people who don’t care about our institution building process.She said the problems of society often arise from individual experiences and the agenda setting for change can never happen without the Innocent Chukwuma’s of our world who speak out against a status quo that is not right. .
Ezeiwesili said he was a remarkable entrepreneur and we must relentlessly work towards building institutions that endure and promote justice and democracy as well as inclusive prosperity just like Innocent did throughout his life….
. The former inspector general of police and chairman police service commission Solomon Arase represented by the permanent secretary of the commission Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku in his good will message said the late Innocent Chukwuma worked closely with the commission and prayed for his wife Mrs Josephine Chukwuma. and children that God would bless them as they continue in the good work of CLEEN Foundation.
Many spoke testifying of his role in bringing about police reforms as well as empowering policemen to do their job through provision of laptop and other incentives. The Lagos state business community testified to his passion and devotion to humanity and impact on our national landscape.
His wife Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma while appreciating all for their support said her late husband and founder of the CLEEN Foundation spent three decades of his life building platforms to support the civic space. The Civil society leader died in 2021 after a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia at the age of 55 and is survived by his wife and children. The event which was in two phases featured the official opening of the CLEEN Foundation headquarters in Utako Abuja and the second year memorial of Innocent Chkwuemeka chukwuma annual impact and legacy lecture series at the Yar’Adua center in Abuja.
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