By Olawale Lamina
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN has described corruption as a cancer that has negatively impacted the performance of the Nigerian education sector.
Dr. Aliyu made stated this at a 3-day workshop organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training and research arm of ICPC for staff of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEBS) and Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB).
The training, which commenced on Tuesday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja was organized to promote Transparency and Accountability in the management of basic education in Nigeria.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the workshop, the ICPC Chairman, represented by Mrs. Grace Agha-Ibe fsi stated that, ‘’the lower end of the education ladder has witnessed more of its impact… from enrolment, to the provision of textbooks and equipment, appointment and management of teachers, assessment of teaching and learning processes, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of schools, as well as monitoring of projects execution, tales of unpalatable experiences abound.’’
Continuing, he added that, ‘’…corruption is at the heart of these experiences, a huge chunk of which may be attributed to lack of transparency and accountability, and the direct and indirect impact of this on access to and quality of education cannot be overemphasized.’’
Speaking on the benefits of the programme to the participants, the ICPC boss said: “it is expected that the knowledge gathered from this workshop will help you discharge your duties more effectively, so that you do not run foul of the law but become more transparent and accountable in your dealings.”
In his address, ACAN Provost, Professor Olatunde Babawale said that, ‘’we believe that at the end of this workshop, the critical outcome of this training is the promotion of transparency and accountability in the Universal Basic Education Board and also develops skills in participants for safeguarding the workplace against corruption and fraud.
Prof. Olatunde noted that the purpose of enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of basic education was first to achieve its educational objectives and second was to ensure quality service delivery.
Delivering his good will message, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC expressed his excitement towards participants who had gathered from different states adding that, “to safeguard the future of Nigerians we must impact positively on students, children who are the future of tomorrow”
The Executive Secretary stressed that nothing must stand in the way towards the discharge of their responsibilities as individuals, stating that to do so will amount to jeopardizing the future.
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