In a move to bolster governance and accountability, the Benue State Ministry of Information and Orientation has formally sought a strategic partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The proposed collaboration was the central focus of a courtesy visit by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Peter Oboh Egbodo, to the ICPC’s Benue State Office recently.
Dr. Egbodo, accompanied by his entourage, was received by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC), Mr. M. A. Wala. Following introductory protocols, the Information Commissioner outlined the visit’s primary objective: to establish and fortify a synergistic working relationship between the two agencies.
He positioned the Ministry as a critical conduit for public engagement, emphasising that sustained citizen orientation on core social values and work ethics is fundamental to promoting accountability and development.
Dr. Egbodo specifically solicited ICPC’s support in building institutional capacity, requesting tailored training programmes and workshops for ministry staff. This training, he noted, would expose personnel to international best practices and evolving regulatory frameworks, thereby enhancing professionalism and preventing infractions in public service delivery.
In his response, RACC Mr. M. A. Wala welcomed the proposal, endorsing it as germane to the effective fulfilment of ICPC’s mandate within the state.
He affirmed the Ministry’s role as a strategic partner in the anti-corruption fight, highlighting the natural alignment between the Ministry’s public communication remit and ICPC’s core mandates of Systems Study, Public Enlightenment, and Education.
Mr. Wala identified these areas as fertile ground for sustained collaboration, suggesting that a unified approach would significantly amplify impact. The meeting, attended by fourteen participants, concluded with a mutual commitment to formalise the partnership and a commemorative group photograph.