Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin and Chairman of the Inter-faith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee, Professor Ishaq Oloyede on Wednesday 9th May, 2012, said religion can be used as a potent tool for fighting corruption through constant teaching and preaching. He said this at the Corporate Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC while presenting the final draft of Inter-faith Manual and Teaching Aids to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.

Professor Oloyede decried the level of corruption in the country and submitted that, since fighting corruption seems to have defied conventional control measures, it behoves religious leaders to take it upon themselves to include anti -corruption messages in their sermons. He said that the Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee noted that the anti-graft war cannot be left to the EFCC alone and resolved to design many strategic and creative mechanisms in combating the war. Some of these mechanisms include the production of the Inter-faith Media Outreach (Television Program) and Teaching Manual (Christian and Muslim) with Teaching Aids for religious leaders.

According to the IAAC’s Chairman, “having discovered that corruption have defied conventional measures, the Inter-faith committee have designed many strategic approaches prominent amongst which is the educational method”. He further stated that the educational approach will be tackled from two angles; the Media Outreach- a religious anti -corruption television program designed at educating the public both from the aspect of the EFCC mandate and the religious aspect. The other approach is the Teaching Manuals against corruption designed for religious leaders for their use during their sermons.

Receiving the Inter-faith Manuals, Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde expressed appreciation on the quality of work and commitment of the Committee towards the fight against corruption. Acknowledging the strategic role of religious leaders in character development of individuals, Lamorde said “religious leaders have more controlling influence on their followers than political leaders. They can employ this to effect attitudinal and behavioural change amongst their faithful,”

The EFCC boss added that the insecurity problem facing Nigeria might not be unconnected with corrupt practices in the country but expressed optimism that the usage of the Manual will go a long way in changing people’s attitudes towards corruption. He also assured the Inter-faith Committee of the Commission’s unalloyed support. The Inter-faith Committee was formed at the instance of the EFCC and its members comprise Muslim and Christian faithfuls. Members of the Committee that witnessed the presentation include Bishop John Praise who is the Secretary of the Committee, Sheik Yusuf Hussein Maibera, Pastor Cletus Alu, Usatz Amin Igwebe and Bishop Christian Ide, Imam Ahmad Abdulrahim.

Ibrahim Lamorde, Executive Chairman, EFCC flanked by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Chairman, Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee during the hand-over ceremony of Inter-faith training manuals at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.


Media & Publicity Unit
9th May, 2012.