Former President John Dramani Mahama was in Ilorin in the Kwara State of Nigeria on Thursday as a Special Guest of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

Mr Mahama addressed the Institution’s 53rd annual national conference, which started on June 19, 2023.

Speaking at the Conference on "Asset Valuation as a global anti-corruption Tool”, the statesman entreated Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers to reinforce the unique value proposition of Africa and espouse cherished and touted African values in valuation mechanisms.

"Professionals must measure their relevance beyond a mere regulatory anchor that insists people use their services.

"Do not get me wrong – regulation is critical to promote sustainable cohesion, growth, and development. However, professionals must always ask if people will voluntarily request their services if there is no regulatory requirement.

"I am encouraging your Institution to take up the challenge and embark on a massive outreach to engage Nigerians. Professionals have often assumed that being technically competent is enough to sustain their relevance," he added.

Efforts to address corruption in Nigeria have been ongoing. The country has established anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.

Additionally, Nigeria has signed and ratified international anti-corruption conventions and implemented domestic legislation to combat corruption.

However, despite these measures, the fight against corruption in Nigeria remains challenging.

Factors such as weak institutional frameworks, lack of transparency, political interference, and inadequate enforcement have hampered progress in combating corruption effectively.