Nigeria – ICPC Attributes Nigeria’s Poor Education System To Corruption

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has linked Nigeria’s deteriorating education system to the widespread corruption entrenched in its operations.

This revelation was disclosed in a release signed by Demola Bakare, fsi, Acting Director, Public Enlightenment and Education, and Spokesperson for the ICPC, made available to African Culture TV.

According to the release, during a three-day workshop organized by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) in Abuja for staff of the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described corruption as a “cancer” that has severely impacted Nigeria’s basic education.

Speaking through Mrs. Grace Agha-Ibe, fsi, Dr. Aliyu underscored that corruption has affected critical areas of the sector, including student enrollment, provision of learning materials, teacher appointments, project monitoring, and supervision.

“The corruption at the lower end of the education ladder has had far-reaching consequences, affecting access to and the quality of education in Nigeria,” the statement noted. Dr. Aliyu stressed that lack of transparency and accountability continues to undermine the delivery of quality education.

The workshop, hosted by ACAN’s Provost, Prof. Olatunde Babawale, aims to equip education officials with the knowledge to strengthen transparency and accountability. Prof. Babawale noted, “The training is crucial to ensuring quality service delivery and combating fraud within the education sector.”

In his goodwill message, UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Hamid Bobboyi charged participants with safeguarding Nigeria’s future, emphasizing that neglecting their responsibilities today would jeopardize the country’s prospects.