The Board of the Annual Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA) has officially launched the 2021 edition as it called on members of the public; Nigerians, both home and in diaspora, to nominate worthy individuals for various categories of the Awards through the Award website: “gfa.hedang.org.” The GFIIA timetable was also announced, spanning a period of five months to the date of Awards presentation.

The Award is in four different categories namely: Outstanding Integrity Award; Outstanding Impact Award; Valuable Whistle blower Award; and Nigerians in Diaspora Integrity Ambassador Award. More information about the Awards are available on social media handles of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), the secretariat and coordinating organisation for the Award, on Facebook and Instagram and via the hashtag #GFIIA2021.

The Board of the Award is chaired by Prof. Itse Sagay and Co-Chaired by Prof. Ayo Atsenua. Other eminent members of the board include: Mr. Femi Falana SAN, Prof. Nsogorua Udombana, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, Dr Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, Comrade Achike Achude and Comrade Femi Aborisade.

According to the statement issued by HEDA, “This year’s edition of the GFIIA officially kicked off on Monday, July 12, 2021 with open call for nomination of candidates which will last for eight weeks and close on September 6. This will be followed by a two-week activities including collation of nominations, shortlisting of candidates, and briefing of the Board as well as feedback from the Board which will be concluded on October 4.

“From October 4 to November 8, 2021, members of the public will once again have the opportunity to vote for the shortlisted candidates. Following the conclusion on voting, the Awards will be publicly presented on Friday, December 10, 2021, to the candidates with the highest votes in each category.”

According to Suraju, Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, to ensure integrity and credibility of the process, HEDA has engaged iNERD360, a leading IT and polling agency in Lagos, to manage the nomination, voting and social media engagement for the Award. “I therefore urge all Nigerians, both home and abroad to be part of this alternative way to fighting corruption,” Suraju said.

“The overall objective of the Awards is to take the fight against corruption beyond the usual naming and shaming, and to step outside the box by ensuring that those who notwithstanding the attractiveness of corruption, bribery and other forms of sharp practices have taken to a life of transparency, honesty and integrity are identified, duly recognized and honoured, as a form of inspiration for greater number of people to follow. This is why HEDA, with the Support of MacArthur Foundation, launched the GFIIA in 2018 to recognise these forthright individuals,” he added.