The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has stated that the university remains firm in the implementation of policies that will prevent corruption and strengthen work ethics amongst the workforce and the students.
This, he said, will promote transparency and maintain the corporate integrity of the university.
The VC said this on Thursday, December 9, 2022, while giving his opening remarks at an enlightenment and education webinar organised by the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the National Open University of Nigeria.
The discourse was organised to mark the occasion of the 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day .
Themed "Uniting the World against Corruption,"
the event was held globally and as it was set aside by the United Nations Convention against Corruption, (UNCAC) to raise awareness on the need to fight and speak up against corruption.
According to Peters, action is required to counter the vices of corruption in the society.
"The importance of this day therefore must not be lost to us as we join the rest of the world to celebrate a cause that seeks to highlight the link between anti-corruption and development.
"We need to understand that tackling the menace is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and involvement of each and every person, staff, students, and stakeholders can we overcome and curb the negative impact of corruption in our lives, institution and society at large."
The guest speaker, Prof. Sam Smah
He said administrative support has been given by the university to relevant units in charge of ethical compliance, service delivery and quality assurance.
Peters commended ACTU for carrying out its mandate of promoting ethical principles and compliance in the university.
He enjoined staff and students to strengthen their efforts in ensuring that the corporate integrity of NOUN is maintained.
The guest speaker, Prof. Sam Smah, while delivering his lecture titled: "Developing Resilience in Promoting Anti-Corruption and Transparency among the Workforce", stated that resilience was necessary to combat the scourge of corruption in the society.
Smah, a lecturer in the Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Faculty of Social Science, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said “resilience is the force needed in the workforce to keep fighting and taking a stand against corruption especially when it is tough."
He noted that the private sector, non-governmental organisations, the media and citizens around the world are joining forces to fight this crime and NOUN ACTU is also part of the forces.
Earlier, Head, NOUN Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), Mrs. Doris Nzenwa, in her welcome address, said the International Anti-Corruption Day is a date to remind everyone of the need to recognise the challenge and threat corruption possess to the stability and posterity of human existence across the globe.
She stated that: “To us in NOUN it serves as a call for everybody, including staff, students and NOUN stakeholders to actively speak out and fight against corruption and a day to imbibe deeply the principles of ethical conduct in our everyday engagement."
Nzenwa noted that the unit with the support from the university has continued to mark the annual celebration using various campaign messages to raise awareness amongst staff of their obligations and responsibilities to prevent fraud and corruption in all NOUN activities.
NOUN-ACTU, she said, "intends to build-in the 2022 IACD theme 'Uniting the World against corruption' into its 2023 work plan. This will be one of its strategy towards achieving a corruption free NOUN environment".
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