Human rights activists have said Nigerian youths should strive to imbibe the virtues of honesty, integrity and transparency in their dealings. They spoke in Lagos at the second annual Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards organized by the Human and Environmental Resources Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

Three categories of awards were presented including the Outstanding Integrity Award; Outstanding Impact Award and Whistle Blower award.

Air Force Officer Umar Bashir won the Integrity award; Dr. Kadiri Kehinde of the Ilorin-based Grassroots Aid Initiative won the Impact award while Murtala Aliyu Ibrahim carted away the Whistle Blower award.

Chairman of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the awards ceremony designed to mark the World Human Rights Day was in celebration of the late Human Rights lawyer and activist, Chief Gani Fawehimi, whom he said exemplified honesty and integrity; the spirit which the younger ones and the coming generation should imbibe.

Represented by the Programme Manager of HEDA, Mr. Shina Odugbemi, HEDA Chairman said not every rich Nigerian is qualified to be described as a man of integrity.

“Our objective for organizing these awards is to immortalize Gani Fawehimni “as a symbol of honesty, integrity and transparency which he lived for in order to inspire the younger ones.

Chairman of the occasion and legal practitioner, Barr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, said Fawehinmi remains a shining example to the younger generation. Another legal practitioner, Barrister Kunle Adegoke said every youth can be celebrated like Fawehinmi if they emulate his honesty and integrity.

“It is important that we educate ourselves, especially the youths to be men and women of integrity. Every youth just wants to make money even when such money doesn’t come with integrity,” he said.