The Independent Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and Other Related Offences (ICPC) said that it has been successful in shutting down 62 unauthorized degree-granting institutes across the country.
The commission also stated that, as part of its efforts to combat corruption in the education sector, it had successfully shut down a bogus NYSC Orientation Camp.
This information was divulged by the Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, at a Youth Dialogue on Corruption in Tertiary Institutions that took place on Tuesday in Abuja.
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According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the ICPC arranged for a meeting to take place between members of Anti-corruption Vanguards from five different tertiary institutions located in the FCT.
Owasanoye, who was afterward represented by Mrs. Hannatu Mohammed, an ICPC Board Member in charge of juveniles, stated that the Commission has since prosecuted the individuals responsible for the crime.
According to him, corruption has a crippling impact on the standard of education in every nation, and as no nation will advance beyond the level and quality of its education, this is a problem in any nation.
He stated that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICPC) established anti-corruption vanguards at educational institutions in order to advance the fight against corruption in the education sector, particularly in tertiary institutions.
Owasanoye went on to explain that the anti-corruption vanguards gave students the opportunity to actively engage in the battle against corruption in their respective educational institutions, which was something that was necessary.
“The vanguards provide the student members with the tools necessary to cultivate a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and the ability to instill a change in attitude in their fellow students.
According to him, “The vanguards also make it possible for students to assist the management of their respective institutions in efficiently reducing corruption in the education system.”
Owasanoye stated that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) had, in addition to the establishment of the anti-corruption vanguards, carried out a System Study and Review within the university system in order to identify operations that allowed room for corruption to flourish.
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He mentioned that the study uncovered a variety of violations within the educational system, such as bribery, gratification, sexual harassment, sexual inducement, examination malpractices, over-invoicing, and over-inflation of contract values. He noted that these violations were found in universities.
According to him, some of the others include the following: awarding contracts to oneself and buddies; selling substandard handouts to students; absenteeism; admission racketeering; and certificate falsification.
He noted, however, that the commission has subsequently defined its findings, offered remedies that were both effective and practicable, and sent the report to the Minister of Education for action.
Prof. Williams Barnabas, Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, stated that the educational system in Nigeria has to be repositioned in order to make a meaningful contribution to the nation’s overall growth during a keynote lecture.