Stemming Corruption , Restoring our Moral Compass and Sustaining Ethics in our

University System

Peter Okebukola

Peter Okebukola

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A Note of CongratulationsTo Africa’s No. 1 VC

Professor Is-haq OloyedePresident, Association of African Universities

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Congratulations to AVCNU on this Congratulations to AVCNU on this conferenceconference

The Vice-Chancellor is the pace-maker of the economy

Without VCs factored into the implementation of Vision 20-2020, success is not guaranteed

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Na you O…. biko95 wise men/women

Out of 150,000,000 Nigerians

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What is this session about?What is this session about?……to reflect with you on to reflect with you on

issue of corruption in our universities

restoration of our moral compasssustenance of good ethical values

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By way of a definition…

• Corruption is.. dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain

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Corruption covers a wide range of activities, such as: favouritism; nepotism; clientelism; soliciting or extortion of bribes; and embezzlement of public goods

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• The withholding of a service, information, or goods that, by law, and by right, should have been provided or divulged.

• The provision of a service, information, or goods that, by law, and by right, should not have been provided or divulged.

• That the service, information, or goods that are provided or divulged are provided or divulged against a benefit or the promise of a benefit from the recipient and as a result of the receipt of this specific benefit or the promise to receive such benefit.

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"the systematic use of public office for private benefit, whose impact is significant on the availability and quality of educational goods and services, and, as a consequence on access, quality or equity in education“

(Hallak and Poisson, 2002)

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Corruption is NOT only about money

• or of apples (Adam and Eve)

• Abacha, the Indian ladies and apples

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IncludesIncludes

academic fraud e.g. plagiarismAdmission racketeering.. And a lot more

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Dear Peter

Could you advise on this person?

Juma

-----Message d'origine-----De : Pavel Exner [mailto:exner@ujf.cas.cz] Envoyé : lundi 25 mai 2009 19:33À : Shabani, JumaObjet : RE: icmp09

Dear Juma,

I want to consult you as somebody who know the African scientificscene. Our congress received already several applications fromNigeria coming from strange people; they tried to pay by stolencredit cards, etc.

Now we have one of which we know nothing bad, but our professionalorganizers are extremely anxious. We do not want to harm the guyjust because some of his countrymen are bad guys, but we would liketo know whether he is serious. He has no publications we could findalthough he claims to be a univesity professor; the university existsbut from its web pages you learn nothing. Could you advice how tofind an information?

The guy says he is Olaniyi S Maliki from the Ebonyi State UniversityAbakaliki, Nigeria

Thanks in advanceand best wishes,

Pavel

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when poverty increases, honesty decreases

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Ilorin 13

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Poverty of the mind and of the pocket

“The Criminal in All of Us”

Inaugural lecture by Professor Igbinovia

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Corruption is a global phenomenon

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Enveloping all nations including..Nigeria as a member of the global village

Nigeria

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Affecting our universities

as a subset of the Nigerian society

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ChinaRussia IndonesiaColumbiaUruguay

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Snapshot of manifestations

• Council• Management• Other Staff• Students

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Council Council

“Cornering” of contractsSpurious travel claimsInflation of contracts

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ManagementManagementSplitting of contracts to fit in with

approval limitSpurious travel claims (DTA,

Estacode)Fictitious companies to make up

three quotationsSuppressing professorial

promotion of “non-VC boys”Over enrolment

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TeachersTeachersWriting projects for studentsSelling questions and answers to

studentsInfluencing external examinersSexual harassment of female

studentsDelaying lectures to few weeks to

examinationPlagiarismCompelling students to buy handoutsExamination malpractice“Sorting”

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StudentsStudentsFalsification of SSCE resultsCheating in examinationsForging of transcriptsIndecent dressing and seductionBuying gifts for teachers to secure favoursProstitutionAlcoholismImpersonationComputer crime (scamming)Plagiarism

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ParentsParents

Offering of bribe for admission

Inducement of teachers for academic favours for their wards

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– Corruption in the promotion/appointment process (especially at the higher level)

….plagiarism, lobbying of assessors

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5

Certificate and transcript forgery

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4

Corruption in the admission process

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3

Corruption in the contract award process

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2

Corruption in the administration of examinations (exam malpractice by staff and students, “sorting for grades”…),

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1…and the winner is….

Solving the corruption Solving the corruption problemproblemLeadership by example

Step up poverty reduction programmes

Strict enforcement of dress codeParents Forum to be part of the

crusadeChurches and Mosques to be part of

the crusadeApplication of harsh sanctionsBlacklisting and Withholding of salaries E-payment

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Role of CouncilRole of CouncilLeadership by exampleEnactment and enforcement of

policies against corruption

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Role of VCRole of VCLeadership by exampleDisciplineVirile anti-corruption crusade

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Restoring moral compassRestoring moral compass

Fearless application of sanctionsRewarding exemplary behaviours

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Be “born again”

• In the Christian or Muslim sense

• Practise what your religion preaches

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Post-UME to weed out hoodlums and potential “sorters”

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Staying within Institutional Carrying Capacity

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Sustaining EthicsSustaining EthicsParents ForumEngage with religious groups on

campus (e.g. Christian and Muslim Student Societies)

Curriculum action: 2-Unit Compulsory Course on Ethics and Morality

Leadership by example at all levels of the university

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Summary of solutionsSummary of solutionsImproving regulatory systems;

strengthening managerial capacities; and building social control over the use of resources

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ConclusionConclusionWe reviewed the different faces

of corruption in our universitiesGlobal, national and institutional

efforts needed to combat corruption

Moral and ethical standards need to be sustained if corruption is to be reduced/eliminated in our universities

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Last wordLast wordThe nation looks on to our

universities for moral rebirth and tackling corruption should be a core component of our curriculum delivery process

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InvitationInvitationUNESCO World Conference on Higher

Education

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“The New Dynamics of Higher Education”

5-8 July, Paris

Thank you and best wishes for the rest of the conference

Email: peter@okebukola.com

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