The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has called for collective action in the fight against corruption, stressing that promoting integrity and accountability should be a shared responsibility of governments, institutions and citizens across Africa.
The call was made during the commemoration of the 2026 African Union Anti-Corruption Day organised by the university's Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the NOUN Headquarters in Abuja.
The event was held under the theme, "Scaling up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa."
Declaring the programme open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Technology, Innovation and Research (TIR), Professor Christine I. Ofulue, described corruption as one of the greatest threats to Africa's stability, development and prosperity.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Nigeria's demographic and economic significance means that its success or failure in tackling corruption has far-reaching implications for the African continent.
He noted that corruption fuels insecurity, weakens governance, undermines economic growth and erodes public confidence in institutions.
Prof. Uduma observed that corruption is not merely a legal or political issue but one that affects every sector of society, including education, healthcare, economic opportunities and social justice.
He stressed that no nation can achieve sustainable development when public resources are diverted, institutions are weakened and citizens lose trust in leadership.
The VC emphasised that the fight against corruption cannot be left to government alone, calling on educational institutions, professional bodies, the private sector, civil society organisations, the media, religious institutions and individual citizens to work together in building societies where integrity is valued and corruption rejected.
The Vice-Chancellor further urged Africans to deliberately nurture and transmit the values of honesty, accountability and transparency to future generations, noting that integrity should be embraced not only as an institutional obligation but also as a personal commitment reflected in everyday actions.
He maintained that universities occupy a strategic position in shaping future leaders and must therefore go beyond academic excellence by cultivating ethical leadership and responsible citizenship.
Professor Uduma reaffirmed NOUN's commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically sound but also exemplify honesty, accountability and dedication to public service through the university's teaching, research and community engagement.
Whilw welcoming participants earlier, the Head of ACTU, Mrs. Nzenwa Doris C-L, described the annual event as an opportunity to strengthen the culture of integrity, transparency and accountability within institutions and across society.
She reaffirmed ACTU's commitment to promoting ethical values and supporting anti-corruption initiatives within the university community.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, ICPC, Mr. Demola Bakare, FSI, urged universities across Africa to raise a generation that values honesty, accountability and patriotism.
He described the theme as timely and strategic, noting that corruption remains a major obstacle to Africa's socio-economic transformation, democratic governance and sustainable development.
One of the highlights of the event was a debate competition between students of the NSCDC Special Study Centre, Sauka, and the Wuse II Study Centre on the topic: "Sanctions Are More Effective Than Education in the Eradication of Corruption in Society."
After a keenly contested session, the NSCDC Special Study Centre emerged overall winner, while the Wuse II Study Centre produced the Best Debater.
Another major highlight was a paper presentation by the Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies (OOCAS), Professor Wilfred Ugwuanyi, titled "Scaling up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa."
Professor Ugwuanyi described integrity as the foundation of sustainable development, good governance and social justice, noting that corruption continues to deny millions of Africans opportunities while weakening public institutions across the continent.
In his closing remarks on behalf of the Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, the Deputy Registrar, Mr. Muyiwa Harrison, thanked participants and stakeholders for contributing to the success of the event.
He urged them to sustain the momentum by translating conversations on integrity into concrete actions that promote transparency, accountability and ethical leadership across society.
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