The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has emphasized the need for collective action and stronger partnerships among stakeholders in the fight against corruption, stating that anti-graft agencies alone cannot win the battle against systemic corruption.
Dr. Aliyu made the call on Wednesday while delivering his opening address at the International Conference on Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Integrity in Governance, organized by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training arm of ICPC, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Integrity Systems for Sustainable Development and Public Trust in Nigeria,” the ICPC Chairman described the conference as timely and strategic, noting that Nigeria urgently requires robust measures to address systemic corruption and promote ethical compliance across all sectors.
Represented by the Director of Special Services Department, Prince Hassan Mohammed, the ICPC’s Boss said the absence of integrity and adherence to ethical standards remains a major contributor to many of the challenges confronting the nation.
“It is an acknowledged fact that lack of integrity and failure in ethical compliance is at the centre of most of the challenges our country is facing today,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu stressed that the anti-corruption fight requires the active participation of public institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, professional bodies, faith-based organisations, the media, academia, and citizens.
He noted that the conference’s objectives, which include promoting scholarly and policy discussions on anti-corruption strategies, facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices, generating innovative and evidence-based solutions, strengthening partnerships among stakeholders, and advancing practical recommendations for improved governance, align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He expressed confidence that collaboration, innovation, and sustained commitment would help deepen public trust, strengthen integrity systems, and foster national development.
In his welcome address, the Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy, Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, decried the state of corrupt practices and its impact on the socio-economy of Nigeria, saying the conference is aimed at galvanizing a concerted effort, intellectual benchmarking, and policy recommendations towards identifying the major barriers that impact transparency and integrity and how to break those barriers in this new era.
Professor Ibrahim urged participants to come up with clear and robust proposals and policy recommendations on how corruption can be mitigated and transparency and integrity can be promoted and sustained.
The governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by the Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, CP Usman Baba (rtd), declared the conference open, just as he commended the efforts of the ICPC in the fight against corruption.
In his goodwill message at the conference, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, emphasized that the fight against corruption must go beyond rhetoric and be driven by unwavering determination, discipline, and concrete action.
He noted that the battle against corruption can only be won through systemic reforms and a collective commitment by all stakeholders to reject and confront corrupt practices at every level of society.
The conference brought together representatives of government institutions, development partners, academia, researchers, students, the private sector, the media, and anti-corruption advocates to deliberate on practical approaches to strengthening transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.