ABU joins debate on fight against corruption, insecurity
The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria has brought together scholars from different parts of the globe to fashion out ways to tackle corruption and insecurity in Nigeria and other African countries.
At an international conference organised by ABU’s Faculty of Social
Sciences, academics from different tertiary institutions on the continent presented papers that generated debates on the best ways to handle corruption and security challenges in Africa.
Leading the debate, a professor of political communications, Umar Pate, identified different types of corruption that are hindering development in Nigeria and other African countries.
He said if Nigeria wants to bring corruption to its knees, the fight should be all encompassing where tertiary institutions and citizens would be involved.
Professor Pate said the Presidency cannot alone fight corruption in Nigeria and that it should create enabling laws and environment that would allow other stakeholders to join the fight.
He said the security challenges facing Nigeria were largely products of corruption.
He said corruption was a major factor in the Boko Haram insurgency, which led to loss of lives and property.
Professor Pate said it is disheartening that about 40,000 children in the Boko Haram affected areas are now orphans.
In his address, the chairman of the conference, Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, urged participants to come up with a framework and suggestions that would assist the present regime to fight corruption and insecurity.
Yari, who was represented by the Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Garba Rikiji, said since fighting corruption was one of the cardinal objectives of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the input of academics on how to tackle the menace would be highly welcomed.
Earlier, the Dean of ABU’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Kayode Omojuwa, said apart from reviving academic discuss that ABU was known for, the conference was also part of the university’s contribution to national development.
Professor Omojuwa said since corruption and insecurity were identified as two major issues that are hindering Nigeria’s development, ABU’s Faculty of Social Sciences was determined to proffer solutions, which would be made available to government and other stakeholders.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ibrahim Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin), Professor Na’iya Sada, said corruption and insecurity stagnate development not only in Nigeria, but in all parts of the world. He commended the organisers of the conference for what he called their wise contribution in moving Nigeria forward.
He said ABU would continue to organise such conferences and engage in researches that would proffer solutions to the problems that are bedevilling the country.