The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for technology-driven and innovative strategies to combat corruption, declaring that Nigeria cannot effectively address modern corruption with outdated methods.
According to an official statement signed by the Spokesperson and Head, Media and Public Communications of the ICPC, J. Okor Odey, Dr. Aliyu made the call at the IFEPS/ICPC Stakeholders Conference held at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The conference, themed “Securing Tomorrow: Ethics at the Frontier of Innovation,” brought together policymakers, government officials, educators, civil society organisations, private sector leaders and other stakeholders to promote ethics, transparency and accountability as critical drivers of national development.
Represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Okwudili Oparaodu, DSSRS, the ICPC Chairman said corruption has become increasingly digital, faster and more sophisticated, making it imperative for anti-corruption agencies to adopt modern tools and strategies.
“Our theme, Securing Tomorrow: Ethics at the Frontier of Innovation, speaks directly to the challenge before us. Corruption is evolving. It is now digital, faster and more sophisticated. If our ethics do not evolve with it, we will be left behind. That is why this conference is critical. We cannot fight 21st century corruption with 20th century tools,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC Chairman outlined three strategic priorities for strengthening integrity in Nigeria. He identified the C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N Values Initiative as a preventive programme aimed at instilling honesty, discipline and respect in children from an early age.
He also highlighted the Citizens Digital Responsibility Initiative (CDRI), designed to promote responsible online behaviour while tackling cybercrime, misinformation and digital fraud, as well as the newly launched Ethics Endowment Fund (EEF), which is expected to provide sustainable funding for ethics education, public enlightenment and the institutionalisation of integrity across the country.
Aliyu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to combating corruption, stressing that enforcement and prosecution alone cannot eliminate the menace. He said lasting success would require building a national culture where integrity becomes the accepted standard of behaviour.
He noted that the Commission has already laid important foundations through initiatives such as the National Values Curriculum (NVC), the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) and the Sexual Harassment Policy.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Professional Studies (IFEPS), Dr. (Mrs.) Uyim Akpabio, said the conference was convened at a time when technological advancement is outpacing regulatory frameworks, making it necessary to integrate ethics into innovation.
She observed that while artificial intelligence, data and digital platforms are transforming governance and society, integrity must remain the guiding principle. She commended the ICPC for championing the National Values Curriculum and the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, describing them as complementary frameworks for promoting ethical values among young Nigerians and strengthening integrity in public and private institutions.
Akpabio explained that the conference was built around three pillars—Alignment, Action and Activation—to unite government, academia, civil society, the private sector, faith-based organisations, the media and families in promoting ethics as a shared national responsibility.
She urged participants, particularly children and young people, to become ambassadors of the C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N Values Initiative, the Citizens Digital Responsibility Initiative, the National Values Curriculum and the National Ethics and Integrity Policy in their schools, workplaces and communities.
Also speaking, Chairperson of the Board of the Institute for Ethics and Professional Studies, Prof. Ekanem Braide, represented by Amb. (Mrs.) Anthonia Ekpa, said the Institute and the ICPC streamlined the conference into a one-day event to encourage wider participation while maintaining meaningful engagement.
She said the conference theme highlights the urgent need to ensure that rapid technological advancement is guided by ethical principles, warning that innovation without integrity could fuel misinformation, deepen inequality and erode public trust.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, mni, Assistant Corps Commander Agboola Olundegun said innovation must be anchored on integrity, transparency, accountability and professionalism to strengthen governance and enhance public confidence.
He noted that the FRSC has continued to deploy technology through digital driver’s licence and number plate administration, electronic traffic enforcement, real-time patrol monitoring and crash data management systems, but stressed that technology alone cannot eliminate corruption without strong ethical values.
Similarly, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, the Director of the Civil Infrastructure Department, Mr. Nasir M. Bello, described the conference as timely, saying ethics, transparency and accountability must remain at the heart of innovation and digital transformation in public service.
He reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to promoting due process, transparency and accountability in public procurement and expressed confidence that the conference would strengthen collaboration and generate practical strategies for advancing ethical leadership and reinforcing Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
