The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta has called on Nigerians to embrace attitudinal change in order to minimize corruption in the country.
Mr. Nta, represented by Mr. Elvis Oglafa, the Secretary to ICPC, was speaking during a courtesy visit by executive committee members of the Rotary Club District 9125 led by its Governor, Dr. Mike Omotosho. The ICPC Chairman explained the importance of change thus: “Change is critical, not just political but attitudinal change”, and added that there was need for change from greed which was a major cause of corruption in the country. He also urged the visiting Rotary Club delegation to work towards identifying people of integrity and developing them as community leaders because the country had people with such qualities in abundance.
In his own remarks, Dr. Omotosho stated that the Rotary Club was about humanitarian service, adding that it had been in the forefront of the fight against polio which he said was a success story in Nigeria.
Dr. Omotosho also explained that the Four-Way Test of the Rotary Club could be used in any sphere of life, and that ICPC could also apply it in its day to day activities. His words: “The test is; 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? If there is a no at any point then one must make a stop.”
Dr. Omotosho stated that the club’s yearly cycle of activities began from 1st July to the 30th of June and that this year, Rotary had a Legacy Project through which it intended to get twelve thousand Nigerians to write short essays about the Nigeria of their dreams, and which the club hoped to put into one publication to make an entry into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest publication in the world.
The event presented an opportunity for the Head of ICPC’s Research and Documentation Unit, Mr. Mike Sowe, to speak about the Commission’s re- engineered National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC). Mr. Sowe explained that the NAVC, being a citizens’ participatory anti-corruption army was open to all Nigerians who were gainfully employed and especially those who belonged to organized groups like Rotary Club, professional bodies, etc.
He therefore invited the members of the club to join the corps.