Tuesday 11^th April 2023

For immediate release

CLEEN FOUNDATION HOLDS  2^ND MEMORIAL AND FIRST ANNUAL LECTURE IN COMMEMORATION OF MR. INNOCENT CHUKWUEMEKA CHUKWUMA

CLEEN FOUNDATION is set to hold the second memorial and first annual lecture in memory of our dear founder MR. INNOCENT CHUKWUEMEKA CHUKWUMA.

Described as “Africa’s leading expert on police and law enforcement reform,” Innocent started off as a student activist at University of Nigeria Nsukka before joining the foremost human rights organization in Nigeria, Civil Liberties Organization, CLO on graduating. He was a leading figure in the pro-democracy struggle to end military rule, restore democratic governance, constitutionalism, rule of law and respect for human rights. A great man of ideas, Innocent contributed greatly to the promotion of public safety and security in Nigeria, and particularly to justice sector reforms, through the various activities of CLEEN Foundation, a non-governmental organization he founded in January 1998. CLEEN under his leadership pioneered the review of the Police Act; initiated community policing in partnership with the police, under the leadership of late IGP Tafa Balogun; introduced the monitoring of police conduct during elections in partnership with the Police Service Commission; and several other pioneering activities.

Innocent passed on 3^rd April 2021 after a brief illness and was buried on the 13th May, 2021. At the time of his death, Innocent had just retired from Ford Foundation as the first Nigerian to head the West Africa Office, as Regional Director, a position he held for eight (8) years.

In commemoration of the second year of his passing, CLEEN Foundation in partnership with Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation, ICCEF, a family foundation set up in his memory, will be holding two activities on Wednesday May 10, 2023 in Abuja. The activities are:

• The Official Opening of CLEEN Foundation’s new office in Abuja located at number 27 Moses Majekodunmi Crescent, Opposite Keystone Bank, Utako, Abuja;
• The launch of the Annual Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Impact and Legacy Lecture Series. The Guest Lecturer for the maiden edition is the very distinguished Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister for Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria. She She will speak to the topic: “Innocent Chukwuma: A Legacy of Character, Competence and Capacity in Building Institutions”

As a Foundation, we will continue to uphold the memory and legacy of our Founder, Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma.

Gad Peter

Executive Director