The wife of late Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma, founder of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs Josephine Effah Chukwuma has said her late husband was a serial entrepreneur who founded many institutions and organisations in his lifetime.
Mrs. Chukwuma made the remarks while speaking on her husband’s Impact and Legacy during his “2nd Year Memorial of Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma/Maiden Annual Lecture” held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on Wednesday.
The Trustee CLEEN Foundation and Executive Chair, Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF) said her children and she were very grateful for the father and husband they had, noting that he (Innocent Chukwuma) continues to live in them.
She said, “My late husband, Innocent was a serial entrepreneur who founded many institutions and organisations including Human Rights Complaint Commission; Situation Room; CLEEN Foundation; Impact Investors Foundation; Oluwaka Institute and Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF) among others.”
Mrs Chukwuma stated that though Innocent set up CLEEN Foundation in January 1998 it only came to the global limelight in 2004 when it receives the Mercado Foundation award of $300,000 for repositioning of the Nigerian Police Force.
She also disclosed that Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF) was established to remember the life and time of a great man, Innocent hence it would be holding Annual Impact & Legacy Lecture Series in his honour in May every year.
She added that, “We are indeed honoured to have former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili as Guest Lecturer in the first maiden annual lecture series on the topic: “Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma: A Legacy Of Character, Competence and Capacity in Building Institutions.”
In her memorial lecture as titled above, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili remarked that Innocent lives and had set a standard for living.
The convener of #BringBackChibokSchoolChikdren said Nigeria needs visionary leaders to move forward and added that Innocent was a true institution builder. He dedicated his life to building and strengthening these institutions, she said.
In her words, “I am delighted to be the Guest Lecturer of this maiden annual lecture on the Impact and Legacy of my late brother, Innocent.
“As you have heard, Innocent was a serial entrepreneur and an exceptional individual.
“He stood for excellent. He didn’t like mediocrity and was a tireless advocate for the voiceless.
“Innocent’s life was characterised with character, competency and capacity to impact lives.
“We gather today to celebrate the legacy of a man who laid his life to building institutions and reforms for a better life.
“It takes a fearless and tireless soul to come out in Nigeria to say, this system is not acceptable. But Innocent Chukwuma did.
“His impact in the fight against police brutality and police reforms cannot be overemphasized.
“He understood human rights and governance issues hence his passion for building institutions that would improve on social justice which birthed the establishment of CLEEN Foundation.
“One of CLEEN Foundation achievements is the establishment of the human rights commission in Nigeria.
“Individual citizens are absolutely important for development. That’s what Chukwuma taught us.”