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Group photograph of CEOs with the chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Awasanoye, (SAN) and Provost of ACAN, Professor Olatunde Babawale at the training
By Samuel Torlumun, Abuja
Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria, (ACAN), a research and training arm of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), has commenced a two-day anti-corruption training session for Chief Executive Officers, CEOs of public agencies on norm and behavior change, on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Titled “executive session of the Chairman of ICPC with CEOs of public agencies”, the training is part of ACAN-ICPC partnership with MacArthur Foundation to mainstream social norm and behavior change approach into anti-corruption training and research.
In his welcome address, Provost, ACAN, Professor Olatunde Babawale said the experience and knowledge sharing session is aimed at developing skills and capacities of the CEOs to enable them take counter measures against corruption at their various agencies.
He underscored the importance of social norms and the role it plays in leadership and in the fight against corruption.
“In recognition of the importance of leadership, in ensuring that corruption is diminished in the public sector, this present experience and knowledge sharing session is designed to support you, the CEOs of public agencies, how social norm constitutes a double-edged sword that can either enhance or prevent corruption. This is to suggest that social norm can either help in reducing corruption or even aggravate corruption. So we want you to detect those social norms that are capable of aggravating corruption and those ones that are capable of helping to reduce corruption or prevent it in your establishments,” he stated.
ICPC chairman Professor Bolaji Awasanoye SAN delivers a speech at the training session
It is the Provost’s expectations that at the end of the two-day session, the CEOs will have all that it takes to avoid what he described as ‘Banana peel’.
He pointed out; “when you get into the office as a public officer, there are recognizable and unrecognizable Banana Peel. What this session is meant to do is to show you how to avoid the banana peel, let you slip”.
Only last year, ACAN had similar sessions in August and October. According the Prof. Babawale the feedbacks have been encouraging as last year’s participants said it has impacted positively in the management of the agencies.
Provost of ACAN Professor Olatunde Babawale makes a remark
In in remark, the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, said the prevention mandate of the commission is critical to help the CEOs avoid that lead to defaults that terminates their wellbeing.
The Chairman noted that, it is good to have conversation with CEOs who tend to be highly prone to all kind of pressure from subordinates, family members, associates, National Assembly members, traditional and religious leaders, etc. to enable them develop confidence and courage to stand up to what is right.
“Ethics play a pivotal role in our behavior change programme. It starts with who you are. To a large extent the rules will force you to be who the system wants you to be. It is important for the CEOs to take note of some of these few points use as discussion points, and also take a look at our National Ethics and Integrity Policy, (NEIP) and familiarize yourselves with anti-corruption norm to avoid truly avoidable defaults and errors,” the chairman posited.
