In a bid to address misconceptions surrounding corruption in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, emphasised that it is inaccurate to categorise all Nigerians as corrupt.
News About Nigeria reports that he made this statement during his keynote address at the Behaviour Change Conference and Exhibition 2023, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The conference, themed ‘Anti-Corruption Interventions in Nigeria: A Behavioural Change Perspective of What Needs to Shift’, was a collaborative effort organised by the MacArthur Foundation, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and other partners.
Owasanoye addressed the mistaken belief held by some people, stating, “At one of the recent policy dialogues organised by the ICPC, two very vocal participants erroneously maintained that Nigerians who are not corrupt are those who have not had the opportunity to abuse or collude in the abuse of public office, authority, or position.”
He highlighted the need to reconsider such beliefs, particularly in the context of traditional anti-corruption interventions and recent efforts to include a behavioural change approach.
Drawing from his experience leading the anti-corruption fight at the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption and the ICPC, Owasanoye categorically stated, “Not all Nigerians are corrupt.”
The chairman also touched on a concerning aspect of corruption, where heads of government organisations fell victim to corruption blackmail by subordinates due to a lack of understanding of certain rules.
These same subordinates would later send anonymous petitions against their superiors.
Akin Fadeyi, the founder of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation and lead organizer of the event, emphasised its strategic nature, stating, “This event was not just to showcase our work; it was strategic to reevaluate our scorecards and redesign more robust templates aimed at scaling up our milestones in measurable impactful proportions.”
Dr. Kole Shettima, the Country Director of the MacArthur Foundation, questioned when Nigerian politicians would undergo self-reformation to prioritise national interests over personal interests that may harm the nation.
Miss Lilian Ekeanyanwu, representing the Country Director of UNODC, Mr Oliver Stolpe, stressed the importance of addressing transparency, integrity, and accountability in the fight against corruption.
She highlighted that behavioural change, both among citizens and their government, is crucial for a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to combatting and preventing corruption.
