Abuja: The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, emphasized that Nigeria’s victory in the anti-corruption battle lies in hybrid engagement and fostering a national culture of integrity. Represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, Aliyu shared this viewpoint during the National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC) Summit on Hybrid Engagement in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aliyu described the anti-corruption campaign as a marathon that demands resilience, collaboration, and innovation. He stressed that sustainable success would be achieved only when citizens adopt integrity as a personal duty, rather than relying solely on institutions for accountability. While legal enforcement remains crucial, he insisted that defeating corruption requires more than administrative measures, urging Nigerians to actively promote transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.
Aliyu highlighted the importance of empowering citizens to participate actively in governance processes, noting that institutional reforms alone are insufficient. He called for a collective effort involving civil society organizations, media, religious and traditional leaders, educational institutions, and the private sector to foster a culture that values honesty, condemns corruption, rewards ethical conduct, and promotes accountability across all societal levels.
The ICPC chairman acknowledged the National Anti-Corruption Coalition as a leading platform in Nigeria for mobilizing citizens, promoting accountability, and translating anti-corruption advocacy into tangible community actions. He noted that the coalition’s strength lies in sensitization campaigns, policy engagement, and social accountability initiatives that encourage citizen participation in governance, demanding greater transparency from public institutions.
Aliyu identified corruption as Nigeria’s most significant development challenge, noting its detrimental effects on governance, public confidence, and essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He emphasized that corruption exacerbates inequality and poverty, making anti-corruption efforts a crucial aspect of Nigeria’s broader development agenda.
Despite progress in public awareness, transparency mechanisms, and citizen demand for accountability, Aliyu warned of emerging threats such as complex financial crimes and procurement irregularities. He highlighted the summit’s theme, ‘Members’ Hybrid Engagement for Strengthening NACC,’ as timely and strategic, emphasizing the role of digital technology in coordinating activities, mobilizing citizens, and strengthening advocacy efforts nationwide.
Aliyu urged coalition members to leverage digital platforms for effective activity coordination, campaign amplification, and outcome documentation from community-based initiatives. He reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to supporting the coalition through preventive initiatives, including the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative, Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, and Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units.
He called on religious and traditional leaders to promote ethical values, urged the media to uphold investigative journalism, encouraged schools to nurture integrity, and challenged businesses to embrace responsible corporate practices. Aliyu described coalition members as a critical bridge between government and communities, emphasizing their role in determining the coalition’s long-term effectiveness and national relevance.
Coalition members pledged continued collaboration with the ICPC, asserting that reducing corruption requires collective responsibility involving government, civil society organizations, communities, businesses, and individual citizens. Dr Otaku Adams, Coordinator of the Civil Military Cooperation Centre, underscored corruption as a threat to national security and sustainable development, advocating for stronger public-private partnerships.
Mr DavidCrown Oyebisi, Executive Director of the Centre for Educational Empowerment and Orientation, highlighted ongoing efforts to promote integrity in schools and combat examination malpractice. He expressed optimism that the summit would yield practical strategies for addressing economic and socio-political challenges while strengthening anti-corruption efforts.
Chief Esther Usman-Walabai of Kingdom Global Help Us Against Corruption stressed the importance of citizens and leaders rejecting corrupt practices and demonstrating integrity through personal example. She advocated for grassroots mobilization to enhance community ownership and accountability in anti-corruption advocacy.