Innocent Chukuwuma, civil society leader, dies after battling leukaemia

Innocent Chukwuma, a civil society leader and renowned human rights activist, is dead.

Chukwuma, West Africa director of Ford Foundation, died on Saturday in Lagos.

He died at the age of 55.

He was said to have been diagonised with acute Myeloid Leukaemia — aggressive cancer of the blood.

TheCable understands that he was to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday for a fellowship at University of Oxford.

He only discovered just last week that he had leukaemia and it turned out to be an aggressive one.

The UK trip was delayed to enable him celebrate Easter with his family.

Chukwuma joined Ford Foundation as its West Africa representative in 2013.

He was responsible for overseeing grant making in the region, supporting efforts to ensure that all people have equal access to economic and social opportunities.

He is a globally recognised advocate for human rights and good governance.

Chukwuma was also the founder of Centre for Law Enforcement Education, popularly known as CLEEN Foundation.

CLEEN was the first African nongovernmental organisation to receive the MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

Chukwuma was also the director, international lobby program, Civil Liberties Organization.

Tributes have continued to pour in for the late civil society leader and renowned human rights activist.

FAYEMI: INNO WAS AN OUTSTANDING COLLEAGUE 

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, described the death of Chukwuma as a “devastating shock”.

“Still distraught from Yinka Odumakin’s demise, Bisi and I woke up to the most devastating shock of Innocent Chukwuma‘s death. Inno was an outstanding colleague and friend from our days at the barricades,” he tweeted.

KINGSLEY MOGHALU: WE LOST A GREAT MAN

Kingsley Moghalu, former presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), described the death of Chukwuma as a great loss.

“I am devastated, yet again this weekend after Yinka Odumakin’s death, by that of my friend and younger brother Innocent Chukwuma, Regional Director of @FordFoundation West Africa. Nigeria, West Africa, Ford Foundation, and of course his family, have lost a great man,” he tweeted.

“Inno was the backbone of civil society in Nigeria. He often called on me as a keynote speaker at some of his convenings on the economy/ entrepreneurship, and we had agreed just a few weeks ago to collaborate on a new idea I had.”

Innocent Chukwuma;another tragic loss of a patriot.Death hath taken away one of the brightest.May his Soul Rest In Peace.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) April 4, 2021

We have lost an Erudite, an Icon, a freedom fighter;Mr Innocent Chukwuma to the cold hands of death. He was an inspiration to us and he will be greatly missed.Our thoughts and prayers are with his dear wife;Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma and the entire family at this trying moment. pic.twitter.com/ZZNLPFMraQ

— Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) (@brcinigeria) April 4, 2021

Oh my God! Innocent Chukwuma, the civil society guru formerly of Ford Foundation, is dead? Gosh! What a loss!! May his soul rest in peace.

— Dr Joe Abah, OON (@DrJoeAbah) April 4, 2021

Rest in peace @chukwumacleen. Love and prayers of strength to Innocent Chukwuma’s family, friends and comrades. This is such a big loss to the civil society family in Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/8mOskOHhzy

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) April 4, 2021

We are sad to learn about the death of Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, who was a board member of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. Mr. Chukwuma was a sincere activist, social crusader and a champion of human rights, devt and democracy in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region. pic.twitter.com/5V6gII1Jzw

— Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (@GEJFoundation) April 4, 2021