President Olusegun Obasanjo has challenged members of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) to assist the federal government in curbing corruption.

The President gave the challenge Thursday when he granted audience to a delegation from the institute at presidential villa, Abuja.

According to him, “If we are really to excel in management in this country, then the integrity that must go with good management should be there.”

He urged the institute led by Mr Abayomi Ojikutu to stress the importance of integrity and probity to its members, adding that members and fellows of the institute should not be found wanting or engaging in corrupt management.

President Obasanjo who commended the efforts of NIM in the development of a vaccine against malaria promised to assist their endeavours since it was in line with the desire of the Federal Government to contain the scourge of malaria in Nigeria.

On the plan by NIM to establish a private sector managed data bank for the country, the president said that “for too long in this country we have managed without adequate data it is like getting into a boxing ring with our eyes closed.”

The NIM had presented to President Obasanjo the honour certificate the president of NIM, Mr Ojikutu said that NIM was honouring him “in recognition of the excellent way you have piloted the affairs of this country in the lat three years.

The president is the first recipient of the honour and would be presented the plaque of the award formally during the forthcoming Annual Conference of the Association of Management Organisations of Africa scheduled for Abuja, November this year.

Charles Ozoemena, Vanguard (Lagos), August 17, 2002