The African Development Bank commemorated the 2026 African Anti-Corruption Day and the 15th anniversary of the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) on Wednesday, 8 July 2026 with a programme dedicated to integrity awareness, private sector integrity and institutional dialogue. Held under the theme "Scaling up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions across Africa," the event brought together Bank staff, experts and partners to reflect on the importance of scaling up integrity and anti-corruption efforts across the continent, while marking fifteen years of PIAC's contribution to safeguarding the Bank's operations and promoting a culture of integrity.
The opening session, led by Anele Ncube, PIAC1 Manager, reiterated PIAC's mandate and the integrity expectations of the Bank, while reinforcing the importance of trust as a foundation for development finance.
Marie Lydie Bile-Aka, Sanctions Secretary at the Sanctions Office, delivered remarks on the Bank's sanctions system. She recalled that the system is a key instrument for protecting development resources from sanctionable practices. She outlined the Bank's two-tier sanctions system and underscored the independence of the Sanctions Commissioner as a guarantee of fairness, impartiality and due process.
In her keynote address, Paula Santos-Da Costa, Director PIAC, reaffirmed the Office's commitment to promoting integrity across the Bank Group's operations. She said this year's theme calls for expanding the continental reach of integrity actions, deepening their development impact, and ensuring that anti-corruption work is not treated as a compliance formality, but as a development imperative.
"PIAC is not an office to avoid. PIAC is a strategic partner," she said, stressing that integrity must continue to be embedded in the way the Bank designs, finances, implements and monitors its development objectives.
A central feature of the programme was the panel discussion on "Strengthening Private Sector Integrity: A Pathway to Unlocking Capital and Industrial Growth." Moderated by Segilola Akin-Taylor, an integrity specialist at PIAC, the discussion featured Aida Ngom, Director of the Private Sector Development Department at the Bank; Edward James, Partner, Global Investigations at Pinsent Masons; and Oluwaseun Arinde, Chief Compliance Officer of Qualitrends Global Solutions Nigeria Limited. The panel underscored the importance of adopting and implementing integrity systems such as integrity compliance programmes in facilitating access to capital, strengthening risk management and demonstrating that companies are ready to engage with investors and development institutions.
Panelists stressed that compliance should not be viewed merely as an obligation, but as a competitive advantage. They encouraged companies to strengthen governance structures, invest in prevention, demonstrate transparency during due diligence processes and sustain integrity reforms over time. The programme also included an integrity quiz feedback session, which offered Bank staff an opportunity to test and deepen their understanding of PIAC's work and the Bank's integrity framework, with prizes awarded to participants who achieved perfect scores.
The event closed with remarks by Koudéidiatou Issabré Sow, Chief Governance and Public Financial Management Officer, delivered on behalf of Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Director of the Bank's Governance and Economic Reform Department. Sow highlighted the critical link between governance, integrity and sustainable development, noting that integrity and accountability are fundamental enablers of Africa's development aspirations.
Alongside the formal programme, the event featured a day-long exhibition showcasing PIAC's evolution and work over the last fifteen years. The exhibition reinforced the Bank's commitment to integrity, governance and anti-corruption action as drivers of public trust, investment and sustainable development across Africa.
