The Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) is ramping up capacity building for accounting and auditing officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to entrench zero tolerance for fraud through forensic accounting.
The Provost of ACAN, Prof. Sheriff Ibrahim, stated this on Tuesday at the opening of a three-day workshop for accounting and auditing officers in MDAs held at the academy in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ACAN is the training and research arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Ibrahim said the workshop themed: “Achieving Zero-Tolerance for Fraud and Corruption in MDAs through Forensic Accounting and Auditing” aimed to equip financial officers across MDAs with forensic skills to stop fraud before it happens.
He said the era of relying only on arrests and prosecution must give way to preventive education.
Ibrahim stated that the training was designed to expose the loopholes, temptations and “flashpoints” in public finance, and to show officers how to resist them.
He said the workshop was targeted at officers who play critical roles in helping organisations manage risk, detect fraud, and maintain compliance with financial laws and regulations.
“Forensic accounting and auditing involve a diverse group of professionals, including forensic accountants, auditors, investigators and legal experts, among others, who work together to uncover financial irregularities, fraud and misconduct,” he said.
Ibrahim noted that the training would equip participants with deeper knowledge of anti-corruption measures to ensure zero tolerance for fraud in MDAs.
He added that the objective was to strengthen operational efficiency in public finance management.
According to him, fraud has cost many African countries heavily in financial losses and damaged reputations, which is why early detection through forensic investigation is critical.
“Forensic accounting and investigation play a crucial role in not only uncovering fraud but also preventing it,” the provost stressed.
The ACAN boss acknowledged government’s commitment to fighting corruption through the establishment of anti-graft institutions such as the ICPC and the EFCC.
He explained that while the ICPC, as the apex anti-corruption agency, enforces anti-corruption laws, its primary focus is on prevention through education and public enlightenment.
“Through the regular anti-corruption education of public officials and enlightenment of the general public on the dos and don’ts of corruption, ICPC has contributed immensely to reducing corruption in Nigeria,” he said.
Ibrahim recalled that a major reason for establishing ACAN was to provide training for public officers and the general public on good governance, accountability, transparency, integrity and ethics.
“Our philosophy is that corruption and related crimes can be controlled and managed through a system of training and re-training that will produce sound anti-corruption policies, operational efficiency and good management culture.”
He said it was through trainings like the current workshop that ACAN succeeded in providing the enabling environment to actualise that viewpoint and support government’s anti-corruption agenda.
The provost disclosed that the issues for discussion at the workshop were carefully selected to ensure maximum learning and urged participants to take full advantage of the 3-day session.
Director of the academy, Garba Idriss, said participants from various public institutions were being taken through areas of fraud, corruption and forensic investigation using scientific tools.
“We are trying to upskill them on the method of forensic investigation.
“Forensic is one of the layers of investigation where any scientific tool you use in uncovering facts is forensic,” he explained.
Idris said the expectation was that at the end of the training, participants would be able to detect and prevent corruption in their MDAs by leveraging technology to block loopholes in financial systems.
Participants also expressed optimism to improve their skills in in forensic auditing to tackle corruption
A participant, Mr David Mbatsoron from Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, said he expected to gain more insight on how to carry out forensic auditing to tackle corruption.
Another participant, Dr Chioma Ugwa, from project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu, said her expectation was to gain knowledge on how to fight corruption in her agency. (NAN)
