Former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, alongside the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, have called for an urgent cultural shift in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against corruption.
Speaking in Abuja at the Verbatim Annual Ethics and Integrity Awards, both leaders emphasized that relying solely on legal prosecution, asset recovery, and arrests is insufficient to dismantle systemic graft. Professor Hagher bluntly warned that Nigerian society must immediately stop celebrating individuals who acquire wealth through questionable means and subsequently use philanthropy or religious donations to buy social respect and public honor. He noted that when society allows stolen funds to purchase prestige, it sends a dangerous message to the youth that corruption is a viable path to success.
Echoing these strong sentiments, the ICPC boss asserted that if the nation relies strictly on the hammer of the law, it will only build a fearful population rather than an honest one. He urged religious leaders, parents, and the media to actively promote a culture of integrity, stop glorifying unverified riches, and build institutions where rules are followed even when no one is watching.
The powerful call to action highlights a growing consensus that winning the anti-corruption war requires rebuilding the national conscience alongside enforcing statutory laws.
Do you agree that Nigerians need to stop celebrating people with unexplained wealth to win the anti-graft fight? Drop your views in the comments below!
