By Precious Mark
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has inaugurated Students Anti-Corruption Vanguards (SAVs) across five tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State, calling on students to take active roles in promoting integrity and ethical behaviour in schools and society.
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, the ICPC Chairman, said the initiative remains one of the Commission’s strongest tools for corruption prevention, adding that students must become key drivers in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
He stated this during the cluster inauguration ceremony held at the Federal University of Lafia (FU-Lafia) on Friday, where SAVs were drawn from FU-Lafia, the School of Nursing and Midwifery Lafia, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, and College of Education Akwanga.
Dr. Aliyu, who was represented by Mr. Demola Bakare, the Director of Public Education, said corruption continues to affect the education sector through examination malpractice, certificate forgery, favouritism, and other unethical practices that weaken academic standards.
He told the students that integrity begins with simple actions such as rejecting examination malpractice, avoiding plagiarism, and respecting institutional rules.
Prof. Mohammed Isah , Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Kida, represented by Prof. Folorunsho Ajayi, described the initiative as an important step toward building a culture of accountability and ethical leadership among students.
He said corruption remains a major challenge to national development and stressed that academic success must go hand in hand with good character.
Mr. Stephen Uvar, the Director of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at FU-Lafia, said the inauguration formally empowers students to serve as anti-corruption ambassadors within their institutions, adding that they are expected to influence positive behaviour among their peers.
The ICPC said the SAV initiative is part of its wider mandate to prevent corruption through public education and youth engagement, noting that early sensitisation remains key to reducing corrupt practices in society.