22nd September, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his administration’s commitment to reducing corruption to the barest minimum in the country.
Jonathan stated his commitment on Monday at the 2014 Annual National Management Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Warri, Delta themed:”Strengthening the Institutions of Nationhood: the Challenges of Management”.
The president was represented by Mr Yemi Adelekun, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation at the two-day event.
According to him, the solutions to the nation’s challenges must be fast-tracked if the country must realise its dream of being among the first 20 economies in 2020.
Jonathan noted that his administration had not relented its effort at delivering dividends of democracy to the populace through purposeful leadership.
“The transformation agenda is a clear demonstration of my administration’s sincere intention to leave a lasting legacy that will be a reference point for subsequent administration’s.
“To set this country on the path of greatness and prosperity, complete elimination of all forms of corrupt practices must be in the front burner of our collective consciousness always.
“You will agree with me that a great nation evolves through great leadership built on good governance, this is our motivation and value proposition,” he said.
Jonathan said that the theme of the event was in line with his administration’s transformation agenda and urged the NIM to support the government in its drive to reposition the economy.
He also urged the institution to improve its visibility at public sessions of the National Assembly so that bills could have professional management inputs before they were forwarded to his office.
“I urge NIM to sustain its current efforts in ensuring professionalism and good ethical conduct among its members and Nigerians in general.”
Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, in his speech, advocated the strengthening of institutions in order to achieve national goals of democratic governance and sustainable development.
Uduaghan, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Mr Solomon Funkekeme, said that to archive the national goals, institutions such as the judiciary and public service delivery must be viable.
President and Chairman of Council, NIM, Nelson Uwaga, said that the conference was part of the institution’s corporate social responsibility and contribution to nation building.
“This conference will provide platform for us to brainstorm on a burning contemporary governance and leadership issues of national importance and suggest way forward,” he said.
Uwaga said that Nigeria needed committed leaders and followers to become a great nation, adding that the task of building a great nation lied with the government and the governed.
Prof. Akin Oyebode, the former Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University, delivered a paper at the occasion entitled: “Building Institutional Capacities as a pathway to Good Governance: The Importance of Legal and Regulatory Framework”.
He said that the nation was bedeviled with corruption and impunity, adding that there was need to adopt a better approach to salvage the situation.
“Any leader that fails to put food on the table of the masses, provides good education, healthcare and other social amenities is a failure.