By Hauwa Ali
The management of the Lagos Port Complex, an annex of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has honoured one of its cleaners, Ruth Isaac, with an award: ‘Face of Integrity’ for returning a found wallet containing cash and valuables.
The Port’s Manager, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu, while awarding the heroine recently in Lagos, said the cleaner demonstrated a high-level of honesty and integrity at a time when the cleaners who worked at the port had not been paid their earnings by the contractor for about three months.
“She isn’t a direct staff of the NPA and doesn’t work directly with me, but when I was told that someone found a wallet and returned it to the security personnel, I asked how much was in the wallet and was told that N20,000 and other valuable items were in the wallet. I was inspired by her integrity to have returned the wallet. She is one of the cleaners at the Lagos Ports Complex of NPA.
“For someone in that kind of situation who found such amount of money, she showed a commendable degree of uprightness to have returned the wallet. No one was with her when she found it; so, she could have decided to keep it and no one would have known. She chose to return the wallet through the NPA Security Department and it was later returned to the owner. I said that we must celebrate this feat because it calls for recognition and commendation”, Olotu stated.
She then presented to the cleaner, the sum of N50,000 and an award plaque with the scribe: “Face of Integrity”, while announcing that her face will be printed on a banner to positioned strategically at the port’s complex.
On her part, the Port’s Public Relations Officer, Ms Arit Nwokedi described the action as not buyable.
“It is not every day we see such high-level integrity and honesty on display in Nigeria.
“Charity begins at home and it’s a trait that isn’t buyable. It’s an inherent quality and by appearing on the banner to be positioned strategically at the port’s complex, Madam Ruth is invariably in the Hall of Fame for integrity and honest.” She said.
Ruth Isaac expressed delight at the commendation and celebration and disclosed that honesty was an important feature in her upbringing.
“I want to thank everyone here and the management and staff 7of NPA for this recognition and award. Indeed, this is one of the characters I learnt as a child.
“When I was younger, if I picked anything that wasn’t mine and got home with it, I wouldn’t only be severely beaten but I would also not be given food for that day.
“I can walk into a place where money is stacked in millions but wouldn’t be moved to collect a dime because I wasn’t trained that way. I sincerely thank the Port Manager, Mrs. Olotu and everyone here to celebrate me today. You will all have multiple reasons to be celebrated,” she said.