The former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms in Nigeria’s Presidency, Joe Abah, a lawyer, will on Tuesday join other development experts, anti-corruption crusaders, activists and policy analysts to appraise behavioural change efforts by some Nigerian organisations, and how to cascade down the efforts.
Mr Abah, currently the Country Director of Development Alternatives Incorporated- a development organisation committed to “shaping a more livable world”, will deliver the keynote speech on the theme: “Nigeria at a Critical Crossroad: Securing the Future with Enduring Anti-Corruption Policies”.
The event, “Behavioural Change Conference 2024” which is scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, between Tuesday 15 and Wednesday, 16 October, is being put together by a cohort of civil society organisations under the umbrella of Behaviour Change Cohort of the MacArthur Foundation.
These organisations, which include the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, and Step Up Nigeria, have within the past five years worked together to innovate ideas and programmes aimed at building the culture of integrity and sound characters towards addressing the endemic corruption challenge facing the country.
The conference is expected to other notable speakers including the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Dr. Otive Igbuzor; and the Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, among others.
According to a statement issued ahead of the conference by the trio organisations on behalf of the cohort, the conference will also showcase a five-year report and the premiere of a documentary film, which are aimed at celebrating the remarkable achievements of the cohort.
“It will also set precedence for a collaborative roadmap for advancing anti-corruption efforts and fostering lasting behavioural change across Nigeria,” the group said.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Executive Director of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Mr. Akin Fadeyi, described the conference as significant, while urging participants to commit to advancing the efforts beyond mere talk-show.
He said: “This conference marks a momentous step in Nigeria’s fight against corruption. Over the past five years, we have witnessed ground-breaking transformations, and this event will not only highlight these milestones but also inspire new strategies for sustaining behavioural change. We know that the discussions and collaborations here will continue to ignite the passion for integrity and accountability across all sectors. Together, we are shaping a future free from the shackles of corruption.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Reverend Father George Ehusani, expressed enthusiasm, emphasising the need for leadership in the fight against corruption.
“We stand at a crossroads where the moral fabric of our society is tested daily by corruption. This conference provides a powerful platform to challenge ourselves and our leaders to uphold values of transparency, justice, and selfless service. We must instil in every Nigerian, particularly our leaders, the belief that true progress comes from integrity. This is a movement of transformation, and I believe that through our collective effort, we can build a Nigeria that is accountable, fair, and prosperous for all,” Father Ehusani said.
In its 2023 edition, the former ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasonoye (SAN), blamed top civil servants, politicians and others for the high level of corruption bedeviling the nation. He elucidated on how lack of administrative experience led some heads of agencies, particularly academics, into corrupt acts, describing most of the people who indulged in corrupt acts as faceless civil servants who led the heads of agencies into default in the first place.
