Emmanuel Thomas
May 18, 2015 – It was a day of honour for Miss Josephine Ugwu, a cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA), Lagos who found N12 million careless abandoned and returned it to security post at the MMIA.
It was a feat described as integrity of the highest order and the House opted to honour her in grand style by holding a plenary in her honour. Ugwu earns less than N10,000 monthly.
The House had two weeks ago invited Ugwu to the House when a lawmaker brought the matter to the notice of his colleagues at plenary.
Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo who presided at the sitting presented a letter of commendation and undisclosed sum of money to Miss. Ugwu.
The letter described what she did as “act of honesty and patriotism for returning the sum N12million on Friday 23 January, 2015″. Taiwo thanked her for “leveraging the country”.
The letter states further that her action is a “great inspiration to many who believe in the future of Nigeria; your conduct has positively affected the image of Nigeria internationally. It is an act worthy of emulation, because of this we decided to hold a special parliamentary session to celebrate your honesty, integrity, uprightness, sincerity, truthfulness and patriotism. We truly believe in you”.
Commending her earlier, Hon. Segun Olulade urged the House to give Ugwu employment in the Assembly or recommend her to the state governor for employment to encourage other Nigerian youths to emulate her.
While agreeing with his colleague, Hon. Rotimi Olowo added that the state government should immortalise her by naming any state institution or monument after her to drive home the need for honesty and integrity among the youths in the country.
Deputy Whip, Hon. Abiru said he was very happy that his motion on Ugwu has seen the light of the day. He thanked the House for celebrating “this great Lady”. Abiru also congratulated Ugwu for being a proud Nigerian who has demonstrated to the world that, “there is hope for us as nation. She has written her name in Gold”, he encouraged Nigerian youths to emulate her good character.
Thanking the House for the gesture, Miss. Ugwu said she was very happy, adding that “I never expected that I will be honoured to be in this Assembly talk more of been recognised and honoured by this institution.”
According to her she was just doing her duty and following the rules of the organisation she is working with and also living according to the training she received from her parents who brought her up and inculcated the virtue of honesty into her.
“My family trained me not take anything that does not belong to me. I also want to prove to the world that Nigeria is a good country with people of integrity unlike the wrong impression they have about the country”, she said.
She disclosed that it was the third time since December 2014 that she was returning money left behind by passengers to the Airport security. Ugwu was accompanied to the Assembly by the Managing Director of her company.
