'More whistleblowers required' for African corporate governance

An expert in business law has claimed that levels of governance in African nations could be improved by greater use of the corporate "whistleblower".

Nigerian publication the Daily Champion reports that Jean Chiazor Anishere told a recent conference in Lagos that the blame for many of the country's high-profile business failures can be attributed to an inherent reluctance to expose organisational shortcomings.

In a new paper entitled The Application of Corporate Governance and Best Business Practices in Business, Vocations and other Professions, Ms Anishere argues that the role of the whistleblower is crucial to the successful regulation of companies in Nigeria.

However, she also acknowledges that the culture associated with such a figure is "yet to take roots in the corporate governance structure prevalent in the region".

Ms Anishere is therefore encouraging board members and shareholders to "empower" the whistleblower if their organisation is not being run to their satisfaction.

Earlier this month, the Nigerian Guardian reported comments from the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Lamido Sanusi, who claimed that the nation's corporate governance record will not improve "until the issue of corruption is dealt with".