Egwunyenga Calls On Nigerian Leaders To Prioritize Integrity In Driving Nation’s Development

By Patrick Ijeh

The Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, has called on Nigerian leaders at all levels to prioritize integrity as a crucial factor for driving the nation’s development.

The university don made the call on Thursday, last week, in the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, while delivering the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (Asaba Chapter) 2024 annual Public Service Lecture.

Speaking on the theme “Integrity and National Development: What Nexus?”, Prof Egwunyenga described integrity as the quality of high moral uprightness and discipline in individuals and organisations, which is attitudinal, self-propelled and manifests at personal, workplace, professional and political levels.

He emphasised that integrity builds trust and reputation and contributes significantly to good leadership and success of developmental initiatives.

He underscored the fact that integrity is not in-born but can be developed through striving to lead by example, creating personal sets of ethical codes, talking about integrity to promote it and providing functional leadership, among others.

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Prof. Egwunyenga highlighted the absence of integrity in interpersonal and family relationships, bureaucracies, professional services, public appointments, elections, and project execution as major barriers to Nigeria’s development.

He emphasized that until leaders embrace integrity, national progress will continue to be elusive.

In the discussion that followed the public service lecture, moderated by Chief Shimitie Love, the panellists – Dr Kingsley Emu (Secretary to the Delta State Government), Mr Reginald Bayoko (Delta State Head of Service), Sir Paul Evuarherhe (former Delta State Head of Service), and Prof Sunny Awhefeada (Dean, Postgraduate School, Delta State University, Abraka) – observed that the lack of integrity in leadership breaches the social contract between leaders and citizens, fostering public distrust in government institutions.

They agreed that the pursuit of integrity should be a collective responsibility, and emphasized the need to strengthen social institutions to uphold this value.

Present at the event were HRM Obi (Engr) Nduka Ezeagwuna (Obi of Issele-Uku as Royal Father of the Day), Gen Alexander Ogomudia Rtd (Chairman, Governing Council of Delta State University, Abraka, as Guest of Honour) as well as principal and senior management officers of Delta State University, Abraka, among others.