ICPC Inaugurates Anti-Corruption Clubs In Two Schools In Owerri, Charges Students To Shun Corrupt Practices

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Imo State office, as part of its public enlightenment/education mandate, recently carried out anti-corruption sensitization programmes and inauguration of Schools Anti-corruption Clubs at Ndegwu Secondary School, Umu Nwoha, Owerri West L.G.A and Diovinic International Academy, Owerri.

Speaking to the students and teachers of Ndegwu Secondary School at the school hall, Assistant Commissioner ICPC Imo State office, Mrs Chinwe Egbeocha, advised the students to eschew all forms of corrupt practices and be models of integrity. She educated them on corruption, types and effects of the scourge in the school and the society.

She then spoke on the types of corrupt practices and social vices prevalent in the school environment and encouraged them to abhor and report corruption to the commission.

Mrs Egbeocha emphasized the imperative of Schools Anti-corruption Clubs as a vehicle for social change which would help to inculcate sound moral values in students and also build integrity into the school system.

While administering the oath of membership on the members of the Anti-corruption Club during the inauguration ceremony, the Assistant Commissioner called on the students to be loyal, faithful and committed to the ideals of the club and shun all forms of corruption and anti-social behaviours.

In her vote of thanks, the Principal of the school, who was represented by a teacher, Mrs Okoro H.N, thanked the Commission for taking out time to sensitize the students and inaugurate the Anti-corruption Club and pledged to ensure that the Club would live up to its aims and objectives.

Similarly, the Commission also enlightened the students on and against corruption and inaugurated an Anti-corruption Club at Diovinic International Academy, Owerri.

Mrs Egbeocha lectured the students on corruption, the Commission’s activities and the importance of joining and being an active member of the Anti- corruption Club.

She stressed that the club membership would help to prepare them for future leadership roles, empower them to challenge lack of integrity whenever it is detected and enable the students to imbibe the virtues of good citizens, hard work and honesty in all their conducts.

In response, the students pledged to fight corruption and abide by all the rules guiding the conducts of the members of Anti-corruption club.

The Principal of the school, Barr. Modestus C. Ugo, in his speech, appreciated the efforts of the Commission for taking out time to educate and sensitize the students and inaugurate the Anti-corruption club and pledged to give the members of the club all the necessary help and attention to enable them function very effectively in reducing corrupt practices in the school.

The events ended with taking of photos and presentation of the Commission’s publications to the Principals of the respective schools.

 ICPC, IDEA to Finalise RoLAC Programme Priorities For Phase 2

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) recently held a meeting to finalise priorities for Phase 2 of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (RoLAC) partners’ programme.

The Consultant of IDEA, Prof. Etannibi Alemika, disclosed that the meeting was a follow-up to Phase 1 of the project, which had the same objectives – to seek to strengthen anti-corruption laws, improve engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and collaboration amongst Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs).

Prof. Alemika added that the intention to support the implementation of anti-corruption measures in ACAs is with a view to strengthening prevention, asset management as well as procurement procedures over the 5-year period of the project.

Responding the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, OFR expressed his gratitude to IDEA and RoLAC for the support received during Phase 1 of the project and thereafter, invited the Secretary to the Commission, Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar, and the Directors to present areas for intervention and support in phase II.

The areas mentioned include support for the development of a new Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028, enhancing the Electronic Data Management System (EDMS) as well as tackling virtual money laundering and corruption in cryptocurrency.

Other priority areas suggested included capacity building for ICPC officers in data analysis, procurement, asset recovery and management, as well as external training for members of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) of MDAs and National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC), and sensitization sessions for MDAs and the general public on the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) and Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI).

It would be recalled that RoLAC had in Phase 1, engaged with ACAs to produce intervention documents and knowledge products including case studies and how-to guides on Tackling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Strengthening the Administration of Criminal Justice and Strengthening Civil Society Engagement in Criminal Justice Reform.