The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) has inaugurated the OYACA Integrity Ambassadors, Eleyele Chapter, at the Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The Executive Secretary of OYACA, Dr. Folasade Ajibade performed the inauguration as part of the Agency’s ongoing campaign to extend its anti-corruption enlightenment to tertiary institutions across the state.
In her welcome address, the Deputy Provost of the College, Mrs. Lara Fatunbi, who represented the Provost, Pharm. Yemisi Oyewo welcomed the OYACA delegation to the institution and commended the agency for choosing the college among others for the initiative.
She said the college management was delighted to embrace the Integrity Ambassadors programme, describing it as a timely intervention that would help instil the culture of integrity and accountability in students from the onset.
In her keynote address, Dr. Ajibade said OYACA, which was inaugurated by Governor Seyi Makinde in December 2020 and commenced full operation in April 2021, understands the pivotal role of youths in combating corruption.
She said the Agency deliberately extended its campaigns to tertiary institutions where future leaders are trained, with the aim of catching them young.
“The youths are not just leaders of tomorrow but catalysts of change today. By engaging young people in anti-corruption efforts today, we are investing in a future where integrity and transparency are the norm rather than the exception,” Dr. Ajibade said.
She explained that the OYACA Integrity Ambassadors were established across tertiary institutions in the state to engage young people in anti-corruption programmes and prepare them for a future built on integrity.
Dr. Ajibade charged the newly inaugurated Ambassadors to live a life of integrity with clean academic records, speak integrity by sharing the anti-corruption message among their peers, and report any act of corruption noticed around them to any OYACA branch office in the state.
She defined corruption as the abuse of a position of trust for personal gain, citing examples such as demanding and accepting gratification, sexual gratification, nepotism, appropriation of public funds for personal use, misuse of political power, and improper performance of contracts by contractors engaged by MDAs, Local Governments or government parastatals.
She assured the Ambassadors of OYACA’s continued support with training, materials and mentorship, and urged them to join efforts to make Oyo State a corruption-free society and a reference point for transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
Dr. Ajibade thereafter formally inaugurated the OYACA Integrity Ambassadors, Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Eleyele Chapter, and congratulated the new Ambassadors.
The event was attended by members of the College Management, Heads of Departments, academic and non-academic staff, students and members of the press.
The event was attended by the College Registrar, Mrs Dupe Ayoola, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Sola Samuel Ojewole, Heads of Departments among other staffers and students of the College.
Also, in attendance were the management staff of OYACA; Director of Finance and account Mr Tajudeen Azeez, Director Administration and Supplies Mr Wasiu Alimi, and the Chief Legal Officer, Mrs Eto-Abasi Olayanju among others.
