The African Development Bank Group's Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC), in partnership with Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), convened project teams from across the Bank's portfolio in Nigeria to strengthen integrity, accountability and transparency in project implementation.
The capacity-building workshop held in September 2026, brought together project managers, accountants, procurement specialists and other project personnel from a range of Bank-financed operations, including the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, and the Abidjan-Lagos Highway Corridor Project.
Rosemond Offei-Awuku, Chief Development Economist at the African Development Bank, urged participants to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability in Bank-financed operations.
"This preventive training is critical in helping project teams identify integrity risks early, understand prohibited practices, strengthen internal controls and take corrective action before issues affect procurement, disbursement and project implementation. We remain committed to building a culture of integrity, prevention and accountability across Bank-financed operations," she said in remarks delivered on behalf of Abdul Kamara, Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery and Director General for Nigeria.
The workshop examined corruption risks, procurement compliance, ethical leadership and practical tools for strengthening accountability throughout the project cycle. Participants were introduced to the Bank's Proactive Integrity Review (PIR) framework and discussed corruption red flags, conflict-of-interest management, integrity due diligence, whistleblowing mechanisms, record-keeping requirements, and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism screening.
Anele Ncube, Division Manager, PIAC, emphasized the importance of engaging directly with project teams to better understand implementation realities and strengthen accountability mechanisms.
"We are here to support project teams, share preventive tools and create opportunities for genuine engagement. These exchanges help us better understand implementation realities while ensuring that integrity and accountability remain at the heart of project delivery," she said.
Clement Obaniyi, Deputy Director of ICPC, highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional safeguards before corruption undermines development outcomes.
"Corruption does no good to anybody. However functional and conceptually sound a project may be, once corruption is introduced, there will be no value for money and the project becomes counterproductive. That is why ICPC is committed not only to enforcement, but also to educating institutions and preventing corruption before it occurs."
The Nigeria engagement forms part of PIAC's broader efforts to strengthen proactive integrity and anti-corruption safeguards across the Bank's Regional Member Countries. Similar workshops have been delivered in Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Kenya, Burundi and Cameroon, with further engagements planned in Mozambique, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Reflecting on the workshop, one participant Taiwo Olawoyin, Senior Procurement Specialist with the Nigeria Electrification Project, said the discussions offered practical insights that could be applied in day-to-day project delivery.
"For those of us involved in procurement, the workshop was a useful reminder of the importance of proper documentation and accountability throughout the project cycle. It provided a valuable platform to engage directly with the Bank and ICPC, share our experiences, and gain practical insights into navigating challenges while ensuring compliance."
The African Development Bank is reinforcing a culture of prevention, integrity and accountability across its operations to ensure that development financing delivers value for money, reaches intended beneficiaries and achieves lasting results for communities.
