The Committed Advocates of Integrity Initiative (CADII), a Civil Society Organisations (CSO) has called on the President Bola Tinubu’s government to intensify its fight against corruption, to enable Nigerian youths achieve their full potential.

Charles Agubor, executive director and convener of CADII, made the call in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Agubor said that the fight against corruption was what the country needed now to get the economy working again.

He said that the group would convene a National Integrity Summit (NIS) aimed at building integrity to prevent and combat corruption.

“We are organising and hosting the National Integrity Summit to promote and advocate for integrity amongst people from all walks of life in a bid to make integrity a more viable, visible and dominant value in our society.

“The summit will be organised in a way to awaken competition and honest dealings in all systems towards building a better and prosperous corrupt-free Nation in Nigeria,” said Mr Agubor.

He added, “The summit was earlier scheduled for June 5 and June 6 but we eventually moved it to August 28 and August 29. We decided to postpone the summit to ensure more participation; and there is a need for a much more holistic, comprehensive and integrated approach to fight corruption.

“The concept of the summit is to advance at both the Africa and Global forum, the fight against corruption, and this will be held annually. At the summit, we will focus on strategies to develop policies and enhance partnerships and dialogue between the public and private sectors to improve productivity.”

Mr Agubor said that clamping down, arresting and sanctioning corrupt officials and individuals were no longer fashionable and may be an inadequate and outdated method of suppressing corruption and promoting integrity.

He explained that a more strategic and sustainable response to the fight against corruption “lies in the use of awards as an incentive to honor individuals and public officials who have proven to be exemplary in the display of integrity.”

Mr Agubor said, “This can be done in a way to awaken competition and honest dealings in all systems, towards building a better and prosperous corrupt-free Nation, Nigeria.”

According to Mr Agubor, building a nation free from corruption can be made possible, by integrating an integrity compliance mindset in branding and in every facet of our life as citizens, through reinforcements of sustainable value reorientation and attitudinal change.

He added, “A nation free of corruption can be achieved through integrity advocacy, enhancing partnerships and dialogue between the public and private sectors to promote business integrity.

“This is essential for sustainable long-term business growth, creating excellent opportunities and increased gross domestic product (GDP), which aims to help in diminishing the vicious cycle of corruption in Nigeria, that has exacerbated poverty, obstructed sustainable development and productivity.”

(NAN)