ICPC Boss Advocates United Front Against Corruption Across Africa
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has called for stronger collaboration among governments, anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, the media and citizens to promote integrity and strengthen anti-corruption efforts across Africa.
Aliyu made the appeal on Sunday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the commemoration of the African Union Anti-Corruption Day held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre. The event was themed, “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.”
He described the theme as a reflection of Africa’s collective aspiration to build a continent where integrity, transparency, accountability and the rule of law serve as the foundation for sustainable development, democratic governance and economic growth.
The ICPC chairman cited findings from the 2025 Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC) study, which revealed that 80 per cent of respondents across 14 African countries believe corruption occurs “always” or “often,” while lack of integrity remains one of the major drivers of corruption.
According to him, the findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen integrity systems across the continent.
“These findings remind us that promoting integrity is not merely aspirational; it is an evidence-based imperative,” Aliyu said.
He noted that the ICPC continues to pursue its statutory mandate through prevention, enforcement and public education, while working closely with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders to strengthen institutional integrity and eliminate opportunities for corruption.
Aliyu also highlighted the Commission’s investment in youth-focused integrity initiatives, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Anti-Corruption Lectures, Integrity Clubs in secondary schools, and partnerships with the Nigerian Law School and universities to integrate anti-corruption education into legal training.
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He said the initiatives align with the CAACC study, which identified public education, awareness campaigns and anti-corruption clubs in schools as some of the most effective preventive measures against corruption.
Delivering the keynote address, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by the Director of the Solicitors Department in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Gladys Odegbaro, described corruption as one of Africa’s greatest development challenges.
He said corruption deprives governments of critical resources required for infrastructure, healthcare, education, food security and social protection, while weakening democratic institutions, fuelling insecurity and eroding public trust in government.
“The antidote to corruption is integrity. Integrity is the foundation of good governance and the cornerstone of public confidence in governance,” Fagbemi said.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthening public institutions, enhancing transparency and accountability, improving inter-agency collaboration, modernising the criminal justice system and deploying technology to reduce opportunities for corruption in public service delivery.
In her welcome address, the Head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), Mrs. Jane Onwumere, said the annual commemoration marks the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and offers stakeholders an opportunity to renew their commitment to promoting integrity across the continent.
She noted that this year’s theme reinforces the fact that the responsibility for promoting integrity extends beyond governments and anti-corruption agencies to every segment of society through strong institutions and effective accountability mechanisms.
The event featured goodwill messages from representatives of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), among other organisations.
Activities marking the occasion included a panel discussion on the theme, “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa,” as well as a paper presentation titled “The Whistleblower and Witness Protection Bill: Where Are We?” delivered by the Executive Director of the African Parliamentarians Against Corruption (APNAC), Mr. Ashley Emenike.
By PRNigeria
