The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Faculty of Social Sciences, in partnership with the Panafricana Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANASFSTRAG) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), hosted an international conference on Thursday, September 18 2025, addressing Nigeria’s deepening corruption crisis.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof Babatunde Babawale, a political scientist and former Provost of the National Anti-Corruption Academy, described corruption as a “malignant tumour” undermining Nigeria’s governance and values. He warned that systemic loopholes, weak institutions, and a lack of accountability continue to aid the problem.
Babawale recommended the establishment of a special anti-corruption court to expedite the prosecution of corruption cases and restore public confidence in the judicial system. He also advocated for a merit-based approach to leadership recruitment, aiming to strengthen governance.
Meanwhile, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola, in her opening remarks, stressed that universities must lead by example in fostering integrity.
She highlighted unethical practices within academia, such as plagiarism, examination malpractice, and abuse of office, as manifestations of corruption requiring urgent redress.
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