Following THISDAY’s report
on a cab man who returned 18 million naira lost money to the owners, Security
and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a rare show of commitment to promoting
integrity in Nigeria honoured the man described as a ‘National
Hero’ with a reward of N2.5 million.
“I was flown to Lagos with my wife and our
Association Chairman. I attended an elaborate ceremony organized by the
Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to showcase integrity. I was given some
amount of money. I am so happy about it.”
Those were the words of Mr.
Imeh Usuah, the Abuja Cab driver whose story of integrity was published in
THISDAY edition of September 20, 2012. He has been reward. The
story headlined, “One Missing Hero at the National Honour’s Awards” caught the
attention of many individuals, corporate organizations, and government
agencies. In the end, it was the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) that
fired the first shot at recognising integrity.
Mr. Usuah had returned the
sum of N18 million to the two Britons who forgot the money in his cab. He said,
“I did it to let people know, especially the foreigners that Nigerians are good
and great people. I can go hungry for days, for as long as my integrity
remains, hunger will disappear by itself”.
Perhaps, Usuah has a
clairvoyance eyes to predict his own future that hunger will disappear by
itself as integrity takes centre stage in his life, on September 25, exactly
five days after the publication, the Security and Exchange Commission honoured
a rare ‘national hero’ using him as an ambassador to launch the maiden edition
of its Integrity award with the sum of 2.5 million naira reward in cash and
investment.
The Director General, SEC,
says, “this award is being instituted to remind our people that integrity pays
and with integrity we can achieve whatever we want to achieve in life without
necessarily cutting corners. Also, it is to tell everyone that integrity can
take higher than improper behavior which brings people down.”
“In the capital market, integrity
is very important, since we trade in intangible assets that are only
represented on paper. Integrity is very crucial in the capital markets;
otherwise there cannot be a market in the first instance. Without trust, no one
will put his money in the capital market and once there is high level of trust,
people can invest their entire life savings in the market.” She said.
Arunma Oteh may be walking
the talk. She has been a staunch campaigner for integrity in government circle.
A wane integrity it was that
led to the near collapse of the Nigerian capital market in 2008. The reform she
now seek in her capacity as the DG of SEC.
She refers to Usuah in a
familiar tone. “ Our brother here, Mr. Imeh Usuah has actually exhibited that
level of integrity, hence, we in the capital market are joining others in
celebrating him. And we believe that with such behaviour the sky is the limit.
I am aware that some other organisations have recognised him for this behaviour
and others will also do the same.
However, we in the capital
market believe that such behavior of detesting iniquities, will surely, lead to
improved activities in our market, attract more investors to the market, lead
to greater confidence and growth of the market as well as sustain growth and
development of our economy as a whole.
Our gift to him may be less
than the amount he returned to the owner, but it is more honourable for him to
have this given to him than to take by greed what does not belong to him, no
matter the amount.
Our reward is in form of
cash and investment for future return, totaling N2.5 million. While we are
giving him a cash gift of N1.5 million to assist him in his business, another
gift of N1 million is being set aside for him as investment in combination of
bonds, equities and money market instruments, which will be invested in
collective investment scheme (CIS) of his choice.”
The award, according to the
Communication Adviser in the office of the SEC-DG, Mr. Obi Adindu is intended
to rediscover the place of integrity in the Nigerian value system. “It
underscores that integrity and honesty are central to relationships, especially
business transactions. These virtues are also at the very nucleus of enduring
success in life, not the pyrhhic ‘victories’ of the ‘get rich quick’ syndrome
to which many a folk have become accustomed and for which they rejoice,” he
stated.
For Usuah, his reward was a
significant one, the man chosen to present him with his plaque of honour is no
other than the man at the helms of affair at the National Human Rights
Commission, prof. Chidi Odinkalu.
“We chose Prof. Chidi
Odinkalu, something of a high priest in the intellectual wing of Nigeria’s human rights community,
to present the maiden Integrity Award to Mr. Imeh Usuah in the former’s
capacity as special Guest of Honour at the Award.
The choice of Prof. Odinkalu
was an easy one. He had used his knowledge of law as an instrument for the
propagation of citizenship rights across over two decades. He had steered clear
of the rambunctious, self serving aspect of civil / human rights advocacy while
garnering a solid reputation both locally and internationally for sober,
consistent and principled advocacy.
His appointment as Chair of
the National Human Rights Commission was in recognition of this selfless and
untainted backdrop. He affirmed the integrity of his resume by exceeding the
call of duty in the statutory prescription for assets declaration. He not only
fully declared his assets, he made the declaration public, thereby showing
leadership in the area of transparent public service.
The convergence between
Prof. Odinkalu’s credentials and the moral which the SEC and capital markets
community sought to propagate for the benefit of the larger society through the
Integrity Award is unmistakable”.
Sure, presenting an award to
a man who showed uncommon honesty and integrity by returning a large sum of
money to its owners by prof. Odinkalu may be a stamp to raise the bar of
integrity in Nigeria.
L-R: Odinkalu, Mrs Usuah, Mr
Usuah and Oteh during the presentation of N2.5m integrity award.
Adeola Akinremi writes
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