Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State has bagged the 2023 Corporate Ethics and Integrity Compliance Award, reports the News Agency of Nigeria.
Head, Corporate Communications and Protocol, Otunba Mike Aladenika, revealed the development in a statement.
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In the statement on Tuesday, he said the Center for Ethics and Self Value Orientation conferred the award on the institution.
According to Aladenika, CESVO, an NGO, which focuses on exposing corruption, also conferred the institutional and individual awards on the Acting Vice Chancellor, AAU, Prof. Sonnie Adagbonyin, and other members of the University’s Management team.
The Executive Director, Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation, Prince Salih Musa Yakubu, said: “This University was, at a time, among the selected 10 most corrupt state-owned universities in Nigeria.
“But the ability of the acting Vice Chancellor to say no to certain unethical things that are done arbitrarily has elevated the university from its chronic bad records to a better one.
“We are aware that your life may be at risk for taking these bold steps to redirect the institution to the path of greatness.
“Don’t forget that God is in control of all our affairs.
“You must not be deterred; you must be more determined and resolute that your mission here is to sanitise the university.
““Out of all the state-owned universities under consideration at this point, we saw indicators of performance of leadership and management that are ethically correct.
“Yours is one of the 10 most ethically responsible, highly-rated, state-owned universities in Nigeria today.
“From the indicators, we have seen the kind of dexterity you have demonstrated so far under your leadership.
“The name of this university is hereby delisted from the list of state-owned universities that are endemically corrupt.
“We can categorically say, without any fear of contradiction, that Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, is today one of the most ethically responsible, corrupt-free state universities, genuinely committed to the provision of quality university education in Nigeria.”
Yakubu said: “These awards to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, as well as to the Vice Chancellor (VC) and some of his Management team, are meant to encourage all to do more, to restore the university back to the pinnacle of its glory.”
The Executive Director noted: “The Vice Chancellor bagged his award in Ethical Conduct and Leadership Compliance based on his assessment.
“These include in self-discipline, emotional intelligence, time management skills, corporate policy performance, ethical uprightness in work place, past antecedents, fiscal discipline and dedication to public service, among other thematic areas.”
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, according to Prince Yakubu, polled a cumulative corporate score of 76 per cent, thereby defeating many other state-owned universities across Nigeria in a covert investigation by the Centre to win its award.
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He said: “Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin who bagged the award on Ethical Leadership/Conduct Compliance was said to have garnered 77 per cent to clinch his award.
“The award confers on him the highest Honorific title of the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO) which is the Integrity Icon of Nigeria.”
As a reward for the awards won by the University, the VC and his management team, the CESVO boss announced an offer of systemic training in ethical leadership for 200 members of AAU community.
“This is to be made up of 100 staff members and 100 student leaders which will come at a 70 per cent liability to the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation while the University caters for 30 per cent,” the statement quoted Yakubu as saying.
The CESVO also conferred Professional Ethics Compliance Awards and Work Place Ethics on the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. M.A. Azeke; Acting Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Theophilus Agweda; Acting Registrar, Ambrose E. Odiase; Bursar-in-Charge, Otoide Matthew Osahon; and Acting ICT Director, Dr. Jane Itohan Oviawe.
In his response, Adagbonyin expressed profound appreciation to the centre for the honour, stressing: “The awards conferred on me, the University and other members of staff will go a long way to further dispel all the misinformation about our great university.”
Adagbonyin, who ascribed the awards to the collective efforts of all staff of the University as well as the supervisory roles of the Special Intervention Team, dedicated all the awards to the SIT.
He said: “With this, we are more determined, as a team, to work towards sustaining the required standard expected from a university of first choice such as ours.”