The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, has stressed that the fight against corruption in Nigeria cannot be left to anti-graft agencies alone, urging collective action and stronger partnerships across all sectors of society.
Aliyu made the call on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day International Conference on Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Integrity in Governance held at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The conference is themed “Strengthening Integrity Systems for Sustainable Development and Public Trust in Nigeria.”
Represented by the ICPC Director of Special Duties, Hassan Mohamed, Aliyu said corruption remains one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges and requires a broad-based national response involving both state and non-state actors.
He told participants, including investigators, academics, legal practitioners and other professionals, that the anti-corruption campaign must extend beyond law enforcement efforts to become a shared national responsibility.
“It is an acknowledged fact that lack of integrity and failure in ethical compliance lie at the centre of most of the challenges facing the country today,” he said.
“The fight against corruption cannot be won by anti-graft agencies alone. It requires collective action and strong partnerships among public institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, professional bodies, faith-based organisations, the media, academia and citizens.”
Aliyu described the conference theme as timely, noting that Nigeria continues to grapple with systemic corruption that undermines development, weakens institutions and erodes democratic governance.
He said the conference aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting discussions on anti-corruption strategies, best practices and evidence-based approaches to governance reform.
According to him, the conference seeks to achieve five key objectives: promoting scholarly and policy discussions on anti-corruption strategies; facilitating the exchange of experiences among stakeholders; generating innovative approaches to combating corruption; strengthening partnerships across government, academia, civil society and the private sector; and advancing practical recommendations for transparency and accountability.
The ICPC chairman urged participants to move beyond rhetoric and produce actionable recommendations capable of strengthening institutional integrity in Nigeria and across Africa.
“Together, through collaboration, innovation and unwavering commitment, we can strengthen integrity systems, deepen public trust and build a more transparent, accountable and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Aliyu also commended ACAN for its sustained commitment to promoting good governance through research, training and capacity development, describing the academy as a critical institution in building integrity within the public service.
Declaring the conference open, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Commissioner for Security and Sundry Matters, Baba Usman, praised ICPC’s efforts in combating corruption and pledged the state’s continued support for anti-corruption initiatives.
In his welcome address, ACAN Provost, Prof. Ghali Ibrahim, called for stronger integrity systems and greater transparency in governance, describing corruption as a major driver of underdevelopment, insecurity, poverty and declining public trust.
He said the conference theme was carefully chosen to address governance and development challenges confronting Nigeria and other African countries.
According to Ibrahim, weak transparency and integrity mechanisms have significantly contributed to Africa’s developmental setbacks, adding that the gathering was designed to generate policy recommendations and innovative solutions to barriers hindering accountability in public institutions.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, said the fight against corruption requires determination, discipline and systemic reforms.
Bawa maintained that corruption can only be effectively defeated when institutions are strengthened and citizens collectively reject corrupt practices.
