A continental organisation on ethical behaviour compliance, Ethics and Compliance Officers Association (ECOA) Africa, has announced its 2020 Investiture and Induction which is scheduled to hold on 11th December 2020 with confirmed attendance of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Head of
Civil Service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mallam Mele K. Kyari.
This was made known by the Association’s President and the Chairman of Council, Professor Bassey A. Ubom during a press conference, highlighting the Programmes of the Investiture and Induction in Abuja on Monday.
Addressing newsmen during the press conference, Prof. Ubom disclosed that: “Ethics and Compliance Officer Association (ECOA), is a professional membership association and research
institution with a focus on enhancing an organization’s compliance to the highest standards of ethics in the governance of their dealings. ECOA aims to encourage through advisement and consultation, to build and sustain a system that is proven to increase integrity in respective organizations’ mandate. The association is also for individuals who are responsible for their company’s ethics, compliance, and business conduct programs. Dedicated to building trust and corporate integrity in Africa, we help leaders create strong ethical workplace cultures and successful businesses that do the right thing.”
He added that: “As ethics and compliance officers, we partner with various government agencies and private organisations to foster growth and development of adherence to ethical behaviours, and compliance with established standards and codes. And, our membership cut across countries
of Africa.”
Adding to the Association’s president address, the Executive Secretary of ECOA, Dr Babatunde Akinsanya said the Association’s Pre-Investiture Lecture will centre on the challenges of corruption in African society, and he promised an insightful discussion on how Africa can progressively improve its governance by complying with best practices in all sectors.
According to him: “We have put everything in place for an insightful discussion. Our Pre-Investiture Lecture theme is Corruption: The Africa Blight which will discuss peculiar challenges Africa still faces as a result of prevalent of unethical behaviours despite decades of efforts to create a more transparent system and will also provide sustainable pathways to ending the blight of corruption in Africa.
“The Investiture will have Mallam Mele Kyari, NNPC Group Managing Director, Arc. Ahmed M. Dangiwa, Managing Director/CEO of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Francis Agbor, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics and Dr Anastasia Gbem, Legal Adviser,
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency as some of the individuals who will receive Senior Fellowship of ECOA-Africa.”
He added that in line with the current dispensation of COVID-19, measures are in place including strict adherence to the protocol on social distancing.
A member of the Council of the Association, Amb. Victor W. Oluwafemi further disclosed that the Investiture Ceremony will hold in attendance notable personalities from across the continent of Africa, adding that the ceremony is on 11th December 2020 at the International Conference
Centre (ICC) in Abuja.
He also said: “Adherence to ethical and professional standards is the bedrock to changing Africa narrative of massive corrupt practices that are always cited as the major cause of its deplorable
state of development. Despite this state, governments in Africa have realised challenges corruption posed to scale up development trajectories and they have started taking measurable actions against it.
“For instance, with approval and lunch of National Ethics and Integrity Policy in Nigeria, the Buhari Administration has really proven that it prioritises genuine fight against corruption. And to be honest with you, this what ECOA-Africa is largely all about. Empowering our members
and partners to comply with ethical and professional standards, monitoring processes to ensure transparency, and conducting empirical studies to ascertain gaps in compliance to ethical and professional values and to correct them across all sectors of African society are what the Association have been working on across the continent.”