CLEEN FOUNDATION LOOSES FOUNDER

Oru Leonard

The Founder and Pioneer Execuitive Director of Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria (CLEEN), has been pronounced dead.

According to sources close to the deceased, One of the foremost Nigeria’s civil society leaders, Innocent Chukwuma who founded the CLEEN Foundation was reported dead on Saturday evening in Lagos at 55 years.

Mr Chukwuma, who holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Leicester in the UK, served from January 2013 until recently, as the Ford Foundation’s representative for West Africa.

“We are extremely saddened to announce the death of Mr. INNOCENT CHUKWUMA on 3rd April 2021. He was the Founder and Pioneer Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation. Until February 2021, few weeks ago, Innocent Chukwuma was the West Africa Representative of Ford Foundation.

“Innocent Chukwuma was a patriot who throughout his adult life struggled for a Nigerian nation where peace, justice, development and security are attained and sustained. He was one of the students within the NANS platform that opposed the arbitrary powers of the military rule in the 1980s. He continued the struggle as a staff of the Civil Liberties Organisation where he led research and advocacy on police reform.” A press release signed by Prof.  Etannibi Alemika stated on behalf of the Trustees and the Board of Directors, CLEEN Foundation.

In 1998, Innocent Chukwuma established the Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as CLEEN Foundation, which is now a leading NGO in the Policing and Public Safety Sector. While we are extremely saddened at his premature transition to eternity, we are consoled by the legacy he left behind.

“Our prayers, thoughts and condolences go to his wife, Josephine, daughters and the extended family. The Trustees, Board of Directors and Staff of CLEEN Foundation will miss his imagination, compassion and humour. His legacy lives on”, Prof Alemika expressed.

Programmes on the celebration of his struggle and life will be made public as they unfold.

See Press Release