By Isaac Aregbesola
The African Initiative Against Corruption and Examination Malpractice (AfICEM) has called on Nigerian youths to embrace integrity as foundation for national development.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AfICEM, Prof. Okeke Okoro, made the call while speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
The event was organised by AfICEM in partnership with the University of Abuja and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Declaring the event open, Okoro described corruption as one of Africa’s greatest developmental challenges.
The chairman called on all stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility in building a culture of integrity.
Okoro reaffirmed the commitment of AfICEM to raising a generation of responsible citizens through education, advocacy, and community engagement.
Also speaking, the Convener and Founder of AfICEM, Francis Abioye, said the organisation was established to change the wrong mindset among young people.
Addressing the participants virtually, Abioye urged the youths to embrace character, competence, and courage as pillars of national transformation.
He cited his theory, “The Triad of National Strength,” from his book ”Fixing Our Broken Nation, Nigeria” as a guide for ethical leadership.
“Nigeria has long grappled with the twin crises of corruption and examination malpractice. They erode integrity and devalue education,”Abioye said.
He added that AfICEM would establish anti-corruption clubs in schools and train volunteers to promote integrity at the grassroots.
The keynote speaker, Justice Olamide Oloyede of Osun State High Court and Founding Trustee of AfICEM,
challenged the youths to reject all forms of corruption.
challenged the youths to reject all forms of corruption.
Oloyede said that parents and guardians must instill honesty, discipline and accountability as the family remains the first school of character.
She noted that examination malpractice undermined merit and damaged Nigeria’s reputation among the comity of nations.
She urged Nigerian youths to take ownership of the nation’s future by rejecting every form of corruption and becoming ambassadors of integrity.
Oloyede observed that many corrupt practices among young people are often encouraged, directly or indirectly, by parents and guardians.
She stressed that family remained the first institution for character formation and called on parents to deliberately instill honesty, discipline, accountability, and integrity in their children.
She further stated that Nigeria must recalibrate its national identity by placing ethical values above material success.
According to her, examination malpractice, like every other form of corruption, continues to damage the country’s reputation among the comity of nations, while undermining merit, competence and national development.
She therefore challenged students to reject examination malpractice in all its forms and become champions of ethical conduct in their schools and communities.
Also speaking, Chairman of ICPC, Dr Musa Aliyu, represented by the Director of Public Education, Mr Demola Bakare, stressed that war against corruption starts from the classrooms.
Aliyu reaffirmed ICPC commitment to collaborating with AfICEM in promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability across educational institutions and society.
Royal fathers at the event, including the Etsu of Kwali Chiefdom, Chief Ayedoo Nizassan, and the Agora of Zuba, Alhaji Mohammed Umar, commended AfICEM for its youth-focused campaign.
A major highlight was the presentation of AfICEM Integrity Awards to Dr. Sam Amadi, Justice Oloyede, retired DIG Abayomi Oladipo; Dr Okeyoyin Agboola, a retired Deputy Conservator General of the National Park Service; and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Babatunde Fawehinmi.
As part of efforts to support education and youth leadership, AfICEM awarded scholarships to three students: Nwali Maryjane, Joseph Diggan and Balogun Taiye from UniAbuja.
The organisation also commissioned 38 AfICEM Anti-Corruption Ambassadors, who will champion integrity campaigns in schools and communities across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Remi Koleoso