Inibehe Effiong wins the Gani Fawehinmi award
Lagos-based human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has won the 2022 edition of the Gani Fawehinmi Award.
Mr. Effiong received the award on December 10 at a ceremony in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria.
The Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards, now in its fifth edition, is organized annually by the HEDA Resource Center, a non-governmental organization focused on the promotion and protection of human rights and justice environment in Africa.
The award is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
"The award aims to encourage, promote, celebrate and protect the uncommon principles of openness, honesty, probity, accountability and transparency in public and private life and to speak out against deserving individuals and organizations" , says HEDA on its website.
The late Gani Fawehinmi, whose name the award bears, dedicated his law practice and his entire life to human rights, social justice and democracy in Nigeria.
He was arrested and incarcerated several times during his fight for a better Nigeria.
Mr. Fawehinmi died at age 71 on September 5, 2009 after a long battle with lung cancer.
The winner, Mr. Effiong, considers the late Fawehinmi a legend and his role model.
The 34-year-old lawyer was recently sentenced to a month in prison in controversial circumstances by Akwa Ibom State Chief Justice Ekaette Obot, who charged him with contempt of court while that he was defending a client in a defamation suit brought by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
“This particular award is the most important award I have accepted and received in my life. It is special because of what the legend Gani Fawehinmi means to me, the human rights community and humanity,” Mr. Effiong said of the award.
"In college, my nickname was Gani. In my office, Gani's portrait reminds me every morning to stand up for what's right, even if it means being alone."
Mr. Effiong thanked the organizers of the award and the many Nigerians who voted for him to come out on top.
"This award has inspired me to continue to uphold the principles and values for which my role model, Gani Fawehinmi, lived and died," he said.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[e...
Lagos-based human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has won the 2022 edition of the Gani Fawehinmi Award.
Mr. Effiong received the award on December 10 at a ceremony in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria.
The Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards, now in its fifth edition, is organized annually by the HEDA Resource Center, a non-governmental organization focused on the promotion and protection of human rights and justice environment in Africa.
The award is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
"The award aims to encourage, promote, celebrate and protect the uncommon principles of openness, honesty, probity, accountability and transparency in public and private life and to speak out against deserving individuals and organizations" , says HEDA on its website.
The late Gani Fawehinmi, whose name the award bears, dedicated his law practice and his entire life to human rights, social justice and democracy in Nigeria.
He was arrested and incarcerated several times during his fight for a better Nigeria.
Mr. Fawehinmi died at age 71 on September 5, 2009 after a long battle with lung cancer.
The winner, Mr. Effiong, considers the late Fawehinmi a legend and his role model.
The 34-year-old lawyer was recently sentenced to a month in prison in controversial circumstances by Akwa Ibom State Chief Justice Ekaette Obot, who charged him with contempt of court while that he was defending a client in a defamation suit brought by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
“This particular award is the most important award I have accepted and received in my life. It is special because of what the legend Gani Fawehinmi means to me, the human rights community and humanity,” Mr. Effiong said of the award.
"In college, my nickname was Gani. In my office, Gani's portrait reminds me every morning to stand up for what's right, even if it means being alone."
Mr. Effiong thanked the organizers of the award and the many Nigerians who voted for him to come out on top.
"This award has inspired me to continue to uphold the principles and values for which my role model, Gani Fawehinmi, lived and died," he said.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[e...What's Your Reaction?
