Nigeria2026-02-19T13:35:39+00:00

Nigeria

Do you know a public servant leading responsibly? Nominate them today!

Accountability Lab Nigeria is proud to launch the 2026 edition of the Integrity Icon Nigeria (IIN) campaign in partnership with the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and  the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

We are seeking nominations of public servants who exemplify responsible and ethical leadership in service to citizens and communities. Since its inception in 2017, the IIN campaign has spotlighted over 40 outstanding public servants whose everyday actions challenge the narrative that responsible leadership in Nigeria is impossible. The campaign promotes a culture of integrity across public institutions by amplifying stories of positive role models.

At a time when public trust in institutions remains fragile, the IIN campaign continues to spotlight government officials who lead with integrity despite systemic challenges. Recent governance issues in Nigeria, from high-profile resignations in key public agencies to heated debates around electoral reforms ahead of 2027, have left many citizens questioning the integrity of public servants. For many citizens, it increasingly feels like nepotism matters more than honesty and integrity. This growing trust gap is exactly why the IIN campaign is timely; to spotlight public servants who are proving that integrity and responsible leadership are still possible in our governance system. The awards recognize public servants who go above and beyond in serving their communities responsibly.

The 2026 nomination process is open to the public, reinforcing the campaign’s commitment to citizen participation and openness. Citizens across various states are encouraged to nominate government officials within their communities who exemplify integrity and work across health, education, security, finance, procurement sectors, etc. Nominees will undergo a rigorous and transparent vetting process before the top five Icons are selected and celebrated.

 “We believe in the power of positive storytelling, and integrity deserves recognition,” said Blessing Anolaba, the Storytelling Development Officer. “Through this call for nominations, we are inviting citizens to support our work in spotlighting public servants who are proving that honest and responsible leadership is possible in Nigeria.”

Nominations for the 2026 IIN Awards are now open and will close on April 30, 2026.

Nominate an Icon

Meet last year’s icons:

Kumafan Dzaan is the Statistician-General of Benue State and Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Bureau of Statistics (BSBS), whose vision and leadership have significantly advanced digital transformation, data accountability, and evidence-based governance in Benue State and beyond.

Colonel Manga has served in the Nigerian Army for 22 years since his commission in 2003. Over those years, he has been deployed to some of the most dangerous and demanding assignments in the country. For a decade, he fought on the frontlines against Boko Haram in Maiduguri, and one of his proudest moments was serving among the strategic officers who foiled a high stakes insurgents’ attack on Giwa Barracks.

Ann Itodo, from the Igala tribe in Kogi State, began teaching at Government Secondary School, Apo, in 2019. From the beginning, she realized that her students faced challenges far beyond academics. One of the earliest pressures she encountered came from parents – mostly mothers – who offered her money to promote their children so their husbands would not learn that they had failed. She refused, believing that education must be rooted in honesty and that students need support, not shortcuts.

CSP Mathias Nuhu, a Police Officer in Akwa Ibom is known for refusing bribes, rejecting extortion, and insisting that “bail is free.” Despite intense pressure from superiors and political actors, he stands firm on due process; even risking his career to protect the integrity of a murder case file he refused to alter.

Oluwashola Shobayo began her civil service career in the risk management department, where all payments above ₦500,000 required clearance before being processed. She and her teammates scrutinized payments closely, often saving money for the government. She became known as “Eagle Eyes” because she always detected errors or potential fraud.
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Accountability Lab is building a new generation of active citizens and responsible leaders around the world. We train, mentor and resource citizens in creative ways to strengthen systems of accountability and unleash positive social and economic change. 

Since 2012, we’ve worked across Liberia, Nepal, Mali, Nigeria and Pakistan, making governance work for people everywhere. We now operate in other countries too, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Niger, Mexico, DRC, and Somaliland.

About - Celebrate, Encourag and Connect Civil Servants | Integrity Icon
About - Celebrate, Encourag and Connect Civil Servants | Integrity Icon

A lack of integrity – which leads to corruption, inequality and insecurity – is a global challenge. Ordinary citizens often feel helpless in the face of graft and mismanagement. There is a need to encourage champions of integrity, which ultimately builds public trust. We ‘name and fame’ public servants who display exemplary integrity and make heroes out of ordinary people doing the right thing.

The value of Integrity Icon is the process, not the outcome. It is a way to create meaningful conversations about what it means to be a public servant and shines a light on the role of ordinary people in strengthening institutions in a society such as ours. It also encourages us to think about what is needed to build an open, inclusive and accountable societies.

Watch our five finalists’ short films below.

Catherine Ogunjebi

Dr. Lois Akut

Samuel Ogundare

Wodi Hanacho Seiyefa

Nkwuda Ogechukwu

Our Judges

Simi Cole

Simi Cole is a medical scientist and consultant epidemiologist for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. She is a Program Officer at the Centre for Peace Advancement in Nigeria, a non-governmental organization that works to create peaceful communities in Nigeria by promoting peacebuilding and development through dialogue, conciliation services, training, research and disseminating accurate and reliable information on peace and development.

Philip Ezegbulam

Philip Ezegbulam is a public servant of great repute. He is currently the Chief Confidential Secretary at the Police Service Commission in Abuja. His steadfastness in the face of numerous challenges, threats and dismissals he received as a result of his honesty in service led to him winning the Integrity Icon Nigeria Award in 2020. He believes that “Integrity cannot be measured in a few years but in countless years of uncompromising contributions.

Okwe Obi

Okwe Obi is an experienced journalist who currently develops investigative pieces for the Sun News in Nigeria. He specializes in stories involving transparency and accountability in governance, uncovering human rights violations and Nigeria’s growing civic space.

Adaobi Obiabunmuo

Adaobi Obiabunmuo is the project coordinator at the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG), a non-profit organization that promotes citizen’s engagement, popular participation and inclusiveness in governance in Nigeria. She has vast experience working in the civil society space and has coordinated projects for the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement – Centre for Legislative Engagement (YIAGA-CLE) and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG). She is also a skilled public relations expert with a masters in Sociology from Nassarawa State University.

Henrieta Okokon

Henrietta Okokon currently serves as the Public Awareness Manager for Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM), a government institution established in 2004 to improve citizen satisfaction by promoting service excellence in public services. She is a Resident information Officer with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Abuja and has served as both the head of the ACTU unit and head of press and public relations at the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP). Mrs Okokon is a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

Chris Nzeduru

Christopher Nzeduru is a human capital development consultant with over 11 years of experience. He is a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration from the University of Calabar. He is currently serving as director at Somvast Resources Ltd. He is also a political commentator and activist in his home state of Imo.

INTEGRITY ICON CAMPAIGN TIMELINE:

  • 6 April – 31 May 

    Nominations: The public nominate public servants who embody the value of integrity and demonstrate the importance of honesty, accountability and personal responsibility. 

  • 1 June – 30 June

    Selection: A high level panel of respected social leaders select this year’s Icons. 

  • 1 July- 31 August

    Filming: Locally based film production company to work with 5 young aspiring filmmakers to create short mini-documentaries (90 seconds) about the finalists doing their jobs, talking about why it is important to serve with the spirit of accountability and interacting with others who can attest to their integrity.

  • 1 September – 30 September

    National Screening and Public Voting: Short films to be shown on national TV, national and community radio stations, and on social media platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp, and YouTube. The public will be encouraged to vote for their favourite Integrity Icon through SMS, Whatsapp and online. National voting begins on 1 September.

  • 1 September – 30 September

    Local Screenings and Dialogues: The short films will be shown in the Icons’ communities through local partners leading a dialogue with the Icons on understanding some of the systemic public service accountability challenges and the creative ways the Icons are addressing these.

  • 15 October 

    The new  cohort of Integrity Icons celebrated at a Final Ceremony and Integrity Summit.

SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN FOR CHANGE:

Our goal is to build a broad movement of people recognising and acknowledging ethics and integrity in the public service. To make this possible, we need you. Support us in one or more of the following ways:

  • Spread our Message

    Help us to raise awareness about the Integrity Icons campaign and its importance for promoting service excellence and turning the tide on corruption and misconduct in the public service. Share stories about our Icons and the campaign; host an engagement with one of our Icons; or profile a public servant you believe epitomises integrity and service excellence.

  • Submit a Nomination

    To name the 2021 cohort of Integrity Icons, we need you to help us identify them. Run a nomination drive at your workplace and in your community. Submit as many nominations as you would like, showcasing how your nominee goes over and above the call of duty to be a model of ethics and integrity in the public service.

  • Sponsor the Awards

    It takes a lot of capacity and resources to run a national campaign, profiling and acknowledging excellence in the public service, and amplifying the importance of doing the right thing. Back our campaign with a donation; support our Film Fellowship; contribute an insert or airtime on your publication, channel or station; or sponsor our awards ceremony.

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