The Independent Corruption Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has said that corruption is an abuse to public office for private gain.
The commission made this known while sensitising students from various tertiary institutions in Delta State, with the theme, “Vanguard against corruption”
According to the ICPC Commissioner for Edo and Delta States Mr Olukile Olusesan, “The youths of today who make up a vibrant and active educated segment of the society and of whom the society should leverage their energy and innovative ideas to positively influence the society unfortunately, have been infected with corruption, hence the need to restructure their mindset has become imperative
Corruption has no universally accepted definition but according to the World Bank, it is an abuse of public office for private gain
Whichever way corruption is defined, it represents negativity and something that is reprehensible in Nigerian values
“Even our educational institutions are not spared by the ugly trend as it has meandered its way into various tentacles bedeviling policies, procedures, systems, personalities and standard of education.
“Which is why the ICPC has gathered students from various tertiary institutions in delta state, sensitizing them on the need for students unionism as a platform to initiate what it calls “vanguard against corruption” that will meaningfully engage students in the fight against corruption
The ICPC believes that this crusade will not only serve as a veritable tool for the much needed change that is so needed in the nations tertiary institutions but in the nigerian society at large
The Keynote Speaker and Chairman Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit of the University of Benin Edo state, prof. Ahbor Ignoroje reiterated the importance of the carrot and stick approach in tackling corruption
According to her, anti corruption strategy is not just about punishing the corrupt. Although prosecution of corrupt individuals is important to demonstrate that corruption is not tolerated and no one, neither the highest government official nor the wealthiest businessperson is immune from prosecution, a reward system for good behavior should also be adopted”
Participants present at the seminar, were also given an opportunity to interact with the floor and the table on the challenges and possibilities of becoming anti corruption ambassadors
