Professor Omotoye Olorode has submitted that for corruption to be uprooted, the foundation of that political economy of capitalist accumulation, now globalised for its reproduction needs to be understood and defeated.
Olorode, a Member, Secretariat Collective, Movement for Socialist Transformation (MOST) who presented the lead paper at the 2023 The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA), explained that “as professionals and patriots, and as intellectuals in our own right, this understanding is important for forging our capacity to support and enhance the organisations of resistance of the mass of Nigeria’s oppressed who are the ultimate victims of private accumulation and its corrupting influences.”
A major highlight of the 6th GFIIA and lecture held in Lagos at the weekend, was whenThe Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre conferred the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA) on the Chairman, Unubiko Foundation, James Ume.
HEDA presented the award to James Ume during the HEDA Resource Centre, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, instituted the annual GFIIA, in honour of the late Human Rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to reward acts of Integrity, Accountability and Whistleblowing to deserving Nigerians of impeccable characters, courage, selflessness and honesty.
According to HEDA, “the award aims to encourage, promote, celebrate and protect the uncommon principles of openness, honesty, probity, accountability and transparency in public and private life and whistleblowing to deserving persons and bodies.
“Jame Ume has made a mark, quietly, in ensuring that others find comfort and convenience and overcome the vicissitude of life. He has touched the lives of the less privileged without making noise about it and has perfected the act of giving to become one of the shining and inspirational lights in humanitarian spaces in Nigeria. Hence, he is well deserving of the award.”
Reacting to the awards Mr Ume, who is also the Publisher of TheWhistler.ng, said, “This award stands for so many things to me. One of which is a call for service.
“It also shows that no matter the little things you do to humanity, people are watching, and they are recognising the things you are doing. It also means that you must monitor every one of your activities and everything you are doing because people are seeing it, and they are observing you and taking records.”
On what to expect from the Foundation, moving forward, the businessman said, “We are very grateful for the recognition that is coming. And I can tell you, we didn’t know how all these awards came about, just some random guy reached out to me to inform me about the awards.
“This December, we are handing over a brand new secondary school that we built to the community and the government on December 26, and we will also be handing over N300 million for scholarships to Abia State students.
“So we are not stopping. We will keep uplifting humanity and keep hoping that we will get support from our friends and associates who help us in the works that we are doing.”
