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The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), flagged off a combined training seminar on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) and Money Laundering, along with a series on Anti-Corruption Leadership, at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The ICPC Head, Media and Public Communications, John Odey, in a press release, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the ceremony marked the beginning of an intensive capacity building program designed for civil servants, civil servants and stakeholders of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), aimed at strengthening the nation’s fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and money laundering.
Speaking at the event, Dr Aliyu said illicit financial flows continue to deprive Nigeria of resources needed to finance development, warning that the scourge undermines economic growth, weakens governance and impoverishes ordinary citizens.
The agency head noted that the benefits of IFFs go only to a privileged few, while the nation bears the high cost of lost revenue and diminished public services.
According to Dr Aliyu, the workshop was convened to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to detect, deter and report suspicious financial activities, thereby ensuring that the nation’s wealth is preserved and utilized for the benefit of all.
The ICPC President affirmed the Commission’s firm commitment to reposition ACAN as a world-class training institution capable of competing favorably with other anti-corruption institutions around the world.
He said the Academy will be transformed into a center of excellence for anti-corruption training, research and development, equipped to produce well-trained professionals with the necessary skills to address the emerging challenges of corruption in Nigeria and beyond.
Dr Aliyu stressed that the fight against corruption must not rely on enforcement alone, but must be complemented by routine training and capacity building of civil servants and civil servants on best practices to combat the menace.
“Enforcement is only one part of the fight against corruption. A sustainable fight against corruption requires prevention through knowledge, integrity and leadership. That is why we are investing in training public servants and other stakeholders, so they can understand the nature of corruption, illicit financial flows and money laundering and apply global best practices in service delivery,” he said.
The anti-corruption boss, therefore, urged the participants to take the workshop seriously, apply the knowledge gained and become ambassadors of transparency, accountability and integrity in their respective organizations, so that the benefits of good governance can be felt across the country.
In addition to suspending the seminar, the President carried out an on-site assessment of the Academy’s facilities to identify areas in need of urgent upgrades and improvements, in line with the Commission’s vision to reposition ACAN as a world-class institution.
He assured that the Commission will provide the necessary support, infrastructure and partnerships to ensure that the Academy meets international standards in anti-corruption training and education.
