The Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) has intensified efforts to strengthen the capacity of accounting and auditing officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to detect and prevent fraud through forensic accounting and auditing.
The Provost of ACAN, Prof. Sheriff Ibrahim, stated this on Tuesday at the opening of a three-day workshop for accounting and auditing officers from various MDAs at the academy in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ACAN is the training and research arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The workshop, themed, “Achieving Zero-Tolerance for Fraud and Corruption in MDAs through Forensic Accounting and Auditing,” is designed to equip public financial officers with specialised forensic skills to identify vulnerabilities and prevent fraud before it occurs.
Ibrahim said the fight against corruption should move beyond reliance on arrests and prosecution to a more preventive approach anchored on education, capacity building and effective internal controls.
He said the training would expose participants to loopholes, temptations and potential “flashpoints” in public finance, while equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to identify and resist them.
According to him, the participants play critical roles in managing financial risks, detecting fraudulent practices and ensuring compliance with relevant financial laws and regulations.
“Forensic accounting and auditing involve a diverse group of professionals, including forensic accountants, auditors, investigators and legal experts, among others, who work together to uncover financial irregularities, fraud and misconduct,” he said.
The provost said the training would deepen participants’ understanding of anti-corruption measures and strengthen their ability to promote zero tolerance for fraud across MDAs.
He added that the initiative was also aimed at improving operational efficiency and accountability in public finance management.
Ibrahim noted that fraud had continued to impose significant financial and reputational costs on many African countries, stressing that early detection through forensic investigation was critical to mitigating its impact.
“Forensic accounting and investigation play a crucial role in not only uncovering fraud but also preventing it,” he stressed.
The ACAN provost acknowledged the Federal Government’s commitment to the fight against corruption through the establishment of anti-graft institutions, including the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He explained that while the ICPC enforces anti-corruption laws, a major part of its mandate was prevention through education, training and public enlightenment.
“Through the regular anti-corruption education of public officials and enlightenment of the general public on the dos and don’ts of corruption, ICPC has contributed immensely to reducing corruption in Nigeria,” he said.
Ibrahim recalled that one of the major reasons for establishing ACAN was to provide training for public officers and members of the public on good governance, accountability, transparency, integrity and ethics.
“Our philosophy is that corruption and related crimes can be controlled and managed through a system of training and re-training that will produce sound anti-corruption policies, operational efficiency and good management culture.”
He said workshops such as the ongoing programme provided the platform for ACAN to translate that philosophy into practice while supporting the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
The provost disclosed that the topics scheduled for discussion were carefully selected to maximise learning and urged participants to take full advantage of the three-day programme.
The Director of the Academy, Garba Idriss, said participants from various public institutions were being trained in fraud, corruption and forensic investigation using scientific and technological tools.
“We are trying to upskill them on the method of forensic investigation.
“Forensic is one of the layers of investigation where any scientific tool you use in uncovering facts is forensic,” he explained.
Idriss said the expectation was that participants would, at the end of the training, be better equipped to detect and prevent corruption in their respective MDAs by leveraging technology to identify and block loopholes in financial systems.
Participants at the workshop also expressed optimism that the training would improve their capacity to use forensic auditing in tackling corruption.
One of the participants, Mr David Mbatsoron of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, said he expected to gain deeper insight into the practical application of forensic auditing in detecting and preventing corruption.
Another participant, Dr Chioma Ugwa of the Project Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, said she expected the training to provide her with the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen the fight against corruption in her agency.
