Benin: The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has trained staff members of an examination body on promoting integrity and curbing examination malpractice. The training was organised for senior staff of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the two-day in-house capacity-building workshop, with the theme ‘Building a Culture of Integrity in the Examination System in Nigeria,’ was held at NABTEB’s national headquarters in Benin. Declaring the event open, NABTEB Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Mohammed, highlighted credibility, integrity, and record-keeping as the three pillars of any examination body. He explained that the training was designed to deepen staff understanding of ethical standards and preventive mechanisms against corrupt practices in the conduct of examinations.
‘There are only three key issues in any examination body – credibility, integrity, and record-keeping. Our individual roles in discharging responsibilities are critical. We may not achieve 100 per cent, but we must work toward it. Everyone should know what they are doing so that others can make useful input,’ Mohammed said. The registrar commended the ICPC for its collaboration with NABTEB, describing the partnership as vital to the board’s effort to upholding ethical conduct in all its operations.
Mohammed also praised staff who rejected bribe offers during previous examinations, urging others to emulate their example. ‘Exams are around the corner. I want to assure you that our staff will get their travel allowances before going out for supervision. When people are not financially strained, it becomes difficult for anyone to lure them into malpractice. Integrity is easier to uphold when welfare is prioritised,’ he said. The NABTEB boss pledged fairness and accountability in leadership, adding that he was determined to ‘fear God, not human beings,’ in carrying out his duties.
Assistant Chief Superintendent at ICPC, Mr Dennis Okoro, spoke on the topic, ‘Offences and Punishments Under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.’ Okoro said corruption posed a grave threat to Nigeria’s stability and the credibility of its educational institutions. ‘Examination malpractice is not just an ethical lapse but a criminal act that jeopardises the integrity of educational assessments. The challenge is not only to prevent individual acts of cheating, but also to safeguard the entire examination process – from setting and administration to grading and certification,’ Okoro said.
The ICPC official explained that examination malpractice included all forms of misconduct by candidates or supervisors that violated laid-down rules before, during, or after examinations. Okoro urged NABTEB officials to champion transparency and strengthen internal systems to build a ‘culture of integrity’ that discouraged malpractice at all levels.