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ICPC Inaugurates 2,000 Anti-Corruption Clubs, Vanguards In 20 Years
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences (ICPC) has said it has inaugurated over 2,000 anti-corruption clubs and vanguards since the initiative’s commencement in 2003.
The Resident Anti-corruption Commissioner of ICPC in Kaduna, Hassan Mohammed, said this yesterday at the formal inauguration of anti-corruption clubs in 30 schools within Kaduna metropolis.
The schools included Government Technical College, Malali, Rimi College, GSS, Narayi, GSS Kawo, Best Scholars (Benevolence), and ECWA Secondary School, among other government and private schools within Kaduna metropolis.
Mohammed said that all hands must be on deck in fighting corruption, adding that the anti-corruption clubs serve as means in inculcating the tenets of good behavior, ethics and integrity.
“We want to catch the students young now there minds are not poisoned by corruption and other vices so we believe this is the time to train their minds as to what we want the country to become,”he said
Mohammed explained that ICPC engaged members of the clubs and vanguards in line with the guidelines of their establishment, in sensitisation activities as well as essay writing, poetry, recitations, debate and quiz competition among others.
He said that such competitions were open to all schools with anti-corruption clubs, adding that that ICPC has enjoyed very cordial working relationship with the State Ministry of Education.
This, he said, has been through its public education outreach initiatives such as formation of such clubs and the introduction of National Values Curriculum for basic education.
According to him, the bedrock of any societal development, peace and stability are the youths, which triggered the ICPC to came up with the idea of targeting and engaging them through strategies such as NYSC CDS group.
Mohammed said the commission also target Students Anti-Corruption Vanguard (SAV) in tertiary institutions, Students
Anti-Corruption Clubs in secondary schools, National Values Curriculum (NVC) and Integrity Lecture Series, among others.
This is in order to inculcate the culture of Integrity, transparency and accountability at their early age.
He thanked the administrators of both the public and private schools that have assisted in mobilising the audience, especially the club advisers and students.
Formally administering the oath of membership to the students, Mr Mathew Mamman, ICPC’s Head of Legal Services in Kaduna, said prosecution of offenders was cost effective.
He, therefore, said that breeding students into the anti-corruption clubs was a step towards curtailing the menace of corruption in the society.
Mamman explained that the students would become vanguards of anti-corruption in their schools.
He said with the support of anti-corruption advisers in the students’ various schools, they would be able to suggest and advise on ways towards mitigating corruption in the schools.
Mamman tasked the students with discipline, respect and dedication in their academic pursuit.
Speaking on behalf of Zabib College, one of the anti-corruption clubs beneficiary school, Mr Usman Ahmed, the school’s’ anti-corruption club adviser, said through the club activities, students would be inculcated with the values of honesty and integrity.
He said that the students would begin to fight corruption at an early age which would be beneficial to them and their peer groups.
To the school, Ahmed said, the club would help cut unwanted behaviors like stealing, examination malpractice and sexual harassment, among others.
Similarly, Malam Muhammadjamiu Hussein, the anti-corruption club adviser in Best Scholars (Benevolence), said the club would curtail examination malpractices, combat moral decadence and inculcate didactic essence in the students.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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