A team from the Kenya Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is currently on a study visit to the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja, Nigeria.

Hosting the team yesterday in his office, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, reiterated the need to strengthen the existing collaboration among African countries in fighting the menace of corruption.

Lamorde, who underscored the need for closer synergy among African countries, described corruption as a monster and a clog in the wheel of progress in the continent.

“The reason Africa is not developed is because of corruption, as it drags us back. Therefore we, as anti-graft agencies and indeed all Africans, need to come together to fight the monster and ensure that the bad ones do not find sanctuary in any part of Africa,” said Lamorde.

The EFCC boss thanked for them for the choice of the EFCC Academy for the study tour. “Though the western world may be advanced in technology and have a lot to teach us, but because of our peculiarities as Africans, some of the solutions proffered for us might not fit in here,” he said.

The anti-graft czar urged the Kenyan delegation to take training seriously. He made it clear that the only way to win the war against graft is to have a well-trained work force as well as a platform of interaction and exchange of ideas.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Vincent Okong’o, Director, Preventive Services, EACC, Kenya, explained that they were on a visit to EFCC as part of their tour guide in creating a Regional Anti-corruption Academy.

“Only East Africa does not have anti-corruption academy and we have chosen EFCC Academy as one,” Okong’o said.

According to him, the delegation in the course of its tour, had learnt a lot and have gotten good responses which would be taken back and worked on.

Okon’go, in appreciating EFCC for its doggedness to the fight against corruption both locally and internationally, hoped that, the relationship between the two countries would be further entrenched.

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