In the 1990s, Nigeria experienced one of its darkest periods; the country's reputation in the League of Nations was at its lowest ebb and a wave of negative role models emerged. Against the backdrop of an increasing decay in the moral fabric, dishonest practices and inefficient management of public affairs by successive governments, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation [HLF] was conceived. The need to document for the purpose of history, the work of Nigeria's greatest contributors has led to the birth of the Hallmarks of Labour Book Series, which is a reference material for researchers on the life and works of Nigerian contemporary role models. Each volume contains abridged biographies of three Hallmarks of Labour Award Recipients with emphasis on the major contributions of each of the subject to National development. The first volume was published in 1999.