The Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Prof. Andy Egwuyenga, has warned that until Nigerian leaders return to the path of integrity in all their dealings, the road to national development in Nigeria may become even longer.
He made the call while delivering the 2024 Annual Public Service Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, UIAA, Asaba chapter, maintaining that a leader of integrity would always deliver on good governance.
Speaking on the theme, “Integrity and National Development: What Nexus?” he underscored the importance of integrity as a vital variable in the determination of national development in Nigeria.
According to him, it is an overwhelming recipe for national development that involves the efficient and effective development of the resources available in the state to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the people.
Noting that leaders in Nigeria must return to the path of integrity in all their dealings to sustain national development, he said, “If you desire reputation, follow the path of integrity.”
He listed four types of integrity namely personal integrity, workplace integrity, professional integrity and political integrity.
“The country is where it is today because this vital variable has been jettisoned by policymakers and state builders over the years. And until the nation returns to the path of integrity in all our dealings, the road to national development in Nigeria may become even longer,” he posited.
The Vice-Chancellor said that the connection between a culture of integrity and national development is straightforward, as it begins with leadership.
“It is only leaders of integrity who can identify and optimise the opportunities provided by the resources to attain excellence. Integrity transforms a society and opens up endless opportunities for growth and development.
“The culture of integrity will eliminate corruption right down from the family level through the corporate level and then up to the national level. The gap between the rich and poor countries in the world is only being widened by the degree of integrity that is available in such states,” he stated.
In his conceptual clarification, Prof. Egwuyenga stated that integrity can be seen as the quality of high moral uprightness and indiscipline in an individual or an organisation, which entails conducting oneself along with strong moral principles towards excellence.
Earlier, J. I. Kagho, Chairman, UIAA, Asaba Chapter, said through its alumni, the University of Ibadan has, in the past six decades, contributed significantly to the political, industrial, economic and cultural development of Nigeria.
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