BY: Justice Godfry
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC, Basil Agboarumi has been awarded the 2019 Integrity Man of the year by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalist (NACJ) at the Sheraton Hotel and Suites, Ikeja.
The event organized by NACJ is the 7th Annual Integrity Award Night and Lecture with the theme ‘Integrity Is Everything’ was attended by the crème-de-la-crème of the society and dignitaries from all professions.
The Secretary General of NACJ, Charles Tola Okhai, in his keynote address, said that the association was formed to contribute their quota to Nigeria by organizing the Integrity Award in 2013 to promote integrity across all spectrum of the society. “We developed a product called integrity lecture and awards to address lack of integrity in our society and that is our vision”.
While emphasizing on the level of scrutiny before an award is given to individuals, the organizer said the NACJ award is not for everyone because every recipient must have proved beyond reasonable doubt that their life has been lived with integrity in every sphere, stating that the award is not strictly for Christians as many people may erroneously believe as some previous recipients have been people from other faith with high level of integrity in their various fields of operations and personal lives. According to him “We don’t give awards for the excitement of giving awards, once you receive our awards, we continue to monitor your activities and your dealings at all levels”.
Speaking during the event, Senator Dino Melaye, who was the keynote speaker at the event emphasized the importance of integrity in governance.
Melaye stated that integrity is very important in governance because no elected official, either in government or in the private sector will steal from his people, stressing that the number one thing anyone needs to be a successful politician is integrity and that earnestness and purpose are components of integrity.
The chairman of the occasion, Chief Chikwendu Udensi said he offered to chair the event because of the level of integrity inherent in NACJ’s processes over the years, stating that every receiver of the award are truly men and women of integrity and he is happy to be in such category.
Basil Agboarumi was given the 2019 Prestigious Man of Integrity Award due to his selfless service to humanity with a high sense of Integrity.
He expressed his surprise at how he was chosen to be a recipient of such an impressive award.
He went on to say that he felt honored to be given an award alongside high status Honorables, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Seasoned Professionals and even Non Nigerians as well.
Agboarumi emphasized that life is all about Integrity and that it means standing for what is right and upright even when one is alone. He went on to say that the Nation needs people that are driven by Integrity, not eye-service and are not influenced by anything.
He is an enthusiastic and passionate professional with more than 18 years of experience with increased leadership skills and abilities in Aviation Ground Handling and Public Relations and Management demonstrating a strong background in Government, Corporations and Non-profit organizations.
Agboarumi joined the Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited, then a subsidiary of the Nigerian Airways, as the pioneer staff/Head of the Public Affairs Unit.
After the privatization and subsequent takeover of the company, Basil was appointed the Head of Corporate Communications with a mandate to spearhead the rebranding of the new company.
He was elevated to the position of General Manager in 2013 and thereafter made to head the Corporate Communications and Information Technology departments, providing leadership for the day to day operations of the units.
He is a member of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, an Associate Member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and an Aluminous of the Pan-Atlantic University. Agboarumi is currently the Managing Director/CEO of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC.
R-L: Managing Director/CEO, Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC, Mr Basil Agboarumi receiving the 2019 Integrity Man of the Year Award from Apostle and Pastor Mrs Bolaji Akinyemi at the event.