The Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the research and training arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has called for a stronger focus on preventing corruption and illicit financial flows through continuous training of public officers.
ACAN Provost, Prof. Sheriff Ibrahim, made the call on Wednesday while declaring open a three-day workshop on “Tackling Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) and Money Laundering” at the academy in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Ibrahim said enforcement alone had not been sufficient to stop fraudulent practices in government, stressing that training and retraining could equip public servants with the skills needed to detect and prevent money laundering and illicit financial flows before they occur.
He said Africa loses billions of dollars annually to illicit financial flows, with sectors such as gold, oil and mining particularly vulnerable to trade misinvoicing and other financial abuses. He stressed that the scale of the losses underscored the need for stronger preventive measures alongside enforcement.
The provost urged participants to use the workshop to strengthen integrity, accountability and transparency within their institutions. He said ACAN would continue to provide training and research to support sound anti-corruption policies, operational efficiency and a stronger culture of good governance.
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