Nigeria can't move forward without leaders of integrity—Anya

By Ikenna Asomba 

Prof. Anya

 The President of Ndigbo Lagos and a member of the 2014 National Conference, Prof. Anya O. Anya, has expressed worry that there is a huge deficit of integrity in the country, pointing that the nation at this critical point needs leaders of integrity to move forward. 

Professor Anya made this remarks in Lagos, while being conferred with the African Leaders of Integrity Merit Awards (ALIMA), by Proven Integrity Communications Network (PICN), publishers of Integrity International Magazine (IIM).

Eminent Nigerians who graced the event were the President, South East South South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSP), Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju; former Group General Manager (Finance & Account), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chief Cyprian Nwuba; Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Bethel Living Limited (BLL), Chief Dominic Ekesi; Legal Adviser, Ndigbo Lagos, Zik Obi; President/Editor-in-Chief, IIM, Onwordi Onichabor; Head, International Operations and Relations, IIM, Dr. Joseph Ododo; Secretary, Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU), Elder Uche Okonkwo among others.

Receiving the award, Anya who also advised the youths to imbibe the values of integrity said: “I am really happy to accept this honour conferred on me today. However, my first inclination was not to accept it because the whole idea of honours and awards have been bastardized. But after doing an investigation about the Proven Integrity Communications Network, and looking at some of the questions I asked, it gave me sufficient confidence that they are trying to do a good job. As there is strong deficit of integrity in our country, it is important to focus on it. If focusing on integrity means that I become a sacrificial lamb for that purpose, I accept the honour as well as the burden.

“Again, it is important for the younger generation to know that there is a word called integrity and that it does matter. No country goes anywhere without men and leaders of integrity. What integrity means is that it is what you say that you do, what you do is what says who you are.

“One important thing is that somebody has to bear this cross. Somebody has to stand out there to tell the younger generation what it means to be a person of integrity. Just like St. Paul used to say, he does not say follow Christ but follow me as an example because I'm following Christ. Also, my people say that a flag cannot be hidden, so when it's dirty, people will detest it, but if is clean, they will salute it.

“Therefore, having accepted this award, what it now means is that anything I do can now be put under the microscope, especially in this age when there are a lot of armed warriors of the internet. People will take you to the internet, dissect you there without you even knowing,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Chief Cyprian Nwuba; Chief Dominic Ekesi; Zik Obi and Elder Uche Okonkwo, commended Professor Anya for his exceptional leadership qualities, describing him as a man of integrity and rare gem, worthy of emulation.