• CISLAC urges tackling of corruption
Wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, has emphasised the importance of discipline, leadership, and service in national development. Speaking at the 116th yearly Founder’s Day Lecture/Fundraising Dinner of Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) in Lagos, tagged 2025 King’s Week, the First Lady reflected on the role of the institution in promoting the virtues for over a century.
She stated that the values were crucial today, especially as “our nation faces challenges in education, youth empowerment, and overall development.”
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Strategy in the Office of the First Lady, Wahab Alawiye-King, she lauded the alumni for upholding the legacy through active engagement, voluntary work, sacrifices, mentorship, and support for the younger generation of students.
She highlighted the theme of this year’s Founders’ Day, “The King’s College Legacy: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future,” as timely and inspiring, emphasising the need to prepare the next generation to uphold the institution’s ideals.
Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, emphasised the importance of investing in modern infrastructure, teacher development, digital technology in classrooms, and equal opportunity for all Nigerian children.
Institutions like King’s College, he said, have a duty to lead in this transformation, not just preserving history, but also driving innovation.
He was represented by Principal of Queen’s College Lagos, Mrs Oyindamola Obabori. She urged the students to draw inspiration from others over the years, while equipping themselves with the skills. resilience, and creativity needed to thrive in the 21st century.
In his keynote address, Prof. Keem Belo-Osagie called for intentional leadership to address the nation’s current challenges, noting that the country has always had problems.
Earlier, the President of KCOBA, Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, urged members to imbibe the King’s spirit by contributing bountifully to preserve the institution’s legacy for future generations.
ALSO, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has said entrenched corruption was crippling the sector and endangering the country’s future.
Speaking at the International Conference on Anti-Corruption hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), in collaboration with Pan-Afric Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG) and CISLAC, Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, declared that corruption has become a systemic disease undermining governance, public trust, and development, with education being one of its most devastating casualties.
The conference, themed “Politics, Governance, Probity, Religion and Corrupt Behaviour in Nigeria”, drew leading academics, policy experts, and civil society advocates, with speakers unanimously warning that unless Nigeria confronts corruption head-on, it risks further weakening governance, eroding values, and intensifying poverty across the nation.
UNILAG’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who declared the conference open, described corruption as “abuse of entrusted power for personal gain,” insisting that favouritism also falls under corrupt practice.
Former Commander of the Nigerian Army Signals and DG of PANAFSTRAG, Major General Ishola Williams (rtd), lamented that graft had become a norm in Nigeria, blaming lawyers, accountants, and media practitioners for enabling corrupt officials.
