Ezekwesili Bags Int’l Anti-Corruption Lifetime Achievement Award

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Dr Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, former World Bank Vice President and co-founder of Transparency International, has been named a joint recipient of the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (Lifetime Achievement) for her decades-long efforts in promoting transparency, accountability, and values-driven governance.

This was contained in a statement made available to Vanguard on Monday said.

The statement said the award was presented by the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at a ceremony organised by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) in support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

It explained that the award, established in 2016, honours individuals, institutions, projects, and innovations that contribute to the fight against corruption and is widely recognised as a benchmark for principled leadership in the global anti-corruption community.

Dr Ezekwesili, who is also the founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), has led transformative initiatives across Africa and internationally, including reforms in public financial management, extractive sector governance, education systems, and global transparency norms.

“Her work spans national reform, multilateral institutions, and leadership platforms such as SPPG and Human Capital Africa, reflecting a lifelong commitment to principled leadership, institutional integrity, and public service,” it stated.

The statement quoted Dr Ezekwesili as saying that the honour belonged to all citizens and reformers who insist that public power must serve the public good, adding that anti-corruption work was not about individuals but about building institutions and norms that outlive any one person.

It added that the award process is chaired by Dr Ali Bin Fetais Al Marri, United Nations Special Advocate for the Prevention of Corruption, who heads the High-Level Award Committee, and that Dr Yasser Refaie, Director of ROLACC, confirmed that Dr Ezekwesili’s nomination underwent rigorous review by both the Assessment Advisory Board and the High-Level Award Committee, affirming her integrity, expertise, and exceptional contributions.

Furthermore, it noted that the recognition reflects SPPG’s founding principles of Character, Competence, and Capacity, which guide its mission to develop a new generation of values-driven political leaders across Africa through its Disruptive Thinking Leadership programme.

It added that the award reinforced the school’s vision of nurturing leaders capable of transforming governance and strengthening public institutions across the continent.

More so, it noted that by describing SPPG as an unconventional school founded by Dr Ezekwesili to equip political leaders with the skills, ethical framework, and civic commitment necessary to serve citizens and shape Africa’s future.