The Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta has been elected as one of the seven new members of the Board of Governors of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), Austria.
The ICPC Chairman from Nigeria was elected into the IACA Board of Governors to represent the African Regional Group during the Assembly of State Parties Conference of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna, Austria.
He is the first African and Nigerian to be so elected which signals a great honour for him and international acknowledgement of upsurge of Nigeria’s prevention activities in the anti-corruption fight.
IACA in a letter dated 17 December, 2015 signed by its Dean and Executive Secretary, Martin Kreitner to Ekpo Nta said: “With the 4th session of the Assembly of parties of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) having come to a successful close, I have the pleasure of once again thanking you for your valuable contributions during this session, and to also of formally notifying you on your election by the Assembly-upon a proposal by Federal Republic of Nigeria – to IACA’s Board of Governors (BoG)
He said, “As you know, the IACA is an international organization based in Laxenburg, Austria. It is the first global institution of this kind, dedicated to overcoming current shortcomings in knowledge and practice in the field of anti-corruption, and seeking to empower professionals for challenges of tomorrow.
The organization was initiated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the Republic of Austria, and other stakeholders.
“It became an intergovernmental organization on 8 March 2011. To date, it comprises a constituency of 66 Parties from all over the world, including three international organizations. IACA has permanent observer status to the UN General Assembly.
“In view of IACA’s role as a dynamic and consistently growing global anti corruption stakeholder and service provider, we look forward to working with you in curbing preventing corruption by empowering professionals. The next meeting of the board is scheduled for 7-8 March 2016.”
Other members elected were drawn from Iraq & Jordan (Asia Pacific Group), Chile (GRULAC), Azerbeijan (Eastern European Group), Brazil (GRULAC) and Thailand (Pacific Group).
For the duration of the Summit, Ambassador Ayoko of Nigeria’s Embassy/Permanent Mission in Vienna presided and was supported by Senator Datuk Low Derg Kuan from Malaysia as Vice-President.
A report from the IACA’s newsletter stated that delegates at the forum voiced their strong support for IACA and underlined the importance of its global work in anti-corruption, education, research, networking and co-operation.
The assembly reiterated that the anti-corruption capacity-building activities provided by IACA could further contribute to the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition, IACA signed three Memoranda of Understanding within the framework of the Assembly with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Law Institute of Lithuania, and the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Armenia.
Culled from Newspot Nigeria