The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere has emerged Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ) 2018 “Integrity Man of the Year.”
The Deputy Governor was conferred with the prestigious Award during the practicing Christian Journalists umbrella body’s Annual “2018 Award and Lecture” series held last weekend in Lagos.
General Secretary of the association, Dr. Charles Okhai, said the choice of Madumere for this year’s most prestigious award category is hinged on the association’s discovery of who he is and the qualities embedded in his character, having watched with keen interest over the years. He said the association proud to identify with his personality, diligence, patriotism, honesty as one of the best Deputy Governors in Nigeria who has demonstrated high level humility that is not known among politicians.
His words: “Since his days as Chief of Staff and now as Deputy Governor of Imo State, we came to the realization that he is worthy of this award at this present time and others, as this honour is bestowed on eminent Nigerians who have over the years distinguished themselves in all spheres of their careers as integrity conscious leaders which Madumere symbolizes, a rare bred God fearing-politician in Nigeria, therefore this award.
“His unassuming nature, loyalty and obedience to laid-down rules and regulations as a Nigerian politician, even when not convenient endeared him to us. The humility he exudes and that which he shows towards his boss, even in the face of total deprivation as his office as Deputy Governor would require is one you can’t find anywhere near any politician of today and so the association decided to use him as Role Model among Nigerian politicians with this symbol of honour bestowed on him at this award ceremony.
“The selection that culminated into the choice of Eze Madumere for the most revered award went through a rigorous process during the association’s National Executive Members Nomination Exercise which produced him as the best among others, after-which voting was carried out by members through SMS nationwide, which also had him emerge as the most deserving candidate for the award.”
Responding, Madumere said: “When I got the news of my being chosen as the recipient of this year’s highly rated award from this great Association of Christian Journalists, I asked myself what I had done to merit such an honour. It wasn’t until the letter of nomination was given to me that I understood the criteria for such an award and I simply would say, I appreciate this show of love and encouragement coming from an association that boasts of its membership across the entire nation and what this award tells me is to remain resolute in towing the path of honour.”
The Deputy Governor said that integrity as the word sounds is something that is noticeably disappearing in our society today, therefore, when one is chosen among many to be honoured for displaying such in his daily activities, it is something worth giving glory to God for and I give thanks to God for the opportunity such as this in my political career in Imo State and in Nigeria as a whole.
“I strive daily to uphold principles of dignity, sincerity, integrity and total humility in all I do and these are the qualities that have seen me through this far in both private and public sectors. I hereby urge the youths and other leaders never to trade away their integrity.”
Madumere is an astute administrator and a management consultant. He attended Primary and Secondary Education in Owerri and Lagos State respectively. He traveled to the United States of America for further studies, where he studied Management and Business Administration in San-Jacinto College and University of Houston in Texas respectively. He holds a Masters Degree in History and International Studies from Imo State University and currently pursuing his Ph.D. in History and International Relations.
While in the United States of America, he made tremendous impact in the corporate America. Among other ‘A’ class firms, he was also an Area Manager in PepsiCo Inc. for many years and also played a key role in expanding KFC businesses. It was the business of the Multinational firms that took him to over 60 countries of the world.
Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsaki was the Chairman of the occasion, while other dignitaries honoured were the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, Hon. Bayo Osinowo of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Ben Bruce, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Chief Justice of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke, Dr. Kunle Hamilton, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu, Dr. Uche Ogah, Dr. Alex Otti among others