The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Head of Transparency International (TI) Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, has been honoured with the Transparency International Amalia Award for Individual Professional Excellence in recognition of his outstanding contributions to transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption.
The award was presented during the Transparency International Movement Awards Ceremony on July 1, marking the conclusion of the TI Summit 2026, held from June 29 to July 1 in Berlin, Germany, with participants attending both physically and virtually.
With the recognition, Rafsanjani becomes the first African to receive the prestigious Amalia Award, one of Transparency International’s highest honours.
Named after the late Amalia Kostanyan, former Chair of Transparency International Armenia, the award celebrates individuals and national chapters that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and anti-corruption initiatives.
Transparency International, a global movement comprising more than 100 national chapters and partners, said Rafsanjani was recognised for his sustained leadership in advancing democratic governance, public accountability and anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria and beyond.
According to the organisation, his leadership has strengthened CISLAC’s evidence-based policy advocacy, fiscal transparency, electoral integrity, public accountability and regional collaboration across Africa.
Presenting the award, Transparency International Chair, François Valérian, praised Rafsanjani’s unwavering commitment to combating corruption and his leadership of Transparency International Nigeria.
He said Rafsanjani had transformed the Nigerian chapter into “a more visible and influential voice within the global Transparency International movement,” noting its consistent contributions to international conferences, policy discussions and collective anti-corruption initiatives.
Valérian further commended Rafsanjani’s resilience and principled leadership, describing his efforts to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria and across Africa as exemplary and deserving of global recognition.
Reacting to the honour, Rafsanjani dedicated the award to the CISLAC team, its partners and anti-corruption advocates, describing it as a reflection of their collective efforts.
“This award is a testament to the collective efforts of the CISLAC team, our partners and anti-corruption advocates,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening democratic governance, institutional reforms, transparency and accountability across Nigeria, Africa and the global community.
