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In a bid to guide children right, empower them to resist vices and be upright in schools and larger society, The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has launches thirty Anti Corruption Clubs in Bayelsa State.
Speaking at the launch, On Wednesday, 13th December 2023, at Biodomo School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, The Secretary of ICPC, Barr Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, said it’s imperative at sensitizing the youths for a better future from the abyss, towards building a more progressive and prosperous tomorrow.
According to Barr Clifford Okudiri Oparaodu, who was represented by Mrs Ekere Usiere,RAAC ICPC, for Rivers and Bayelsa States, ICPC, knowing how endemic corruption is, and worried how deep it has eaten into the fabric of the society, decided long ago on the formation of anti corruption clubs in schools across the country, aimed at changing the mindset of the youger generation.
He noted, that the ICPC has the Students Anti-Corruption Clubs (SAC) in secondary schools and the Students Anti-Corruption Vanguards (SAV) in tertiary institutions. While highlighting some objectives of establishing the clubs as to begin a gradual re-orientation of the minds of students/pupils, to make the students/pupils imbibe the virtue of honesty, transparency and integrity.
Others are to use the school clubs as a means of getting the message of anti-corruption to different households in the country, to lay the foundation of good citizenship in the students/pupils, to inculcate sound work ethics in the students/pupils and make them appreciate the maxim.
Oparaodu, who registered ICPC’s total disgust and rejection on sexual harassment by teacher’s, reminded the Youths of their right to report such act of intimidation to the commission, while assuring them of ICPC’s resolved to protect them where necessary in pursuit of their right to seek redress.
The secretary, further assured the students of ICPC commitment to ensure that all schools in Bayelsa and Nigeria at large have anti-corruption clubs, adding that the River’s state office which oversees Bayelsa will take care and guide them.
In her paper presentation, Mrs Juliet Ase, talked on how to fight corruption and how it can be kick out in the society, she encourages the youths to believe on themselves and have the self confidence that they can get what they needed, saying that’s the only way they can be able to fight corruption.
She explained, that corruption is not only attributed to bribery, embezzlement, extortion of fund, money laundering, stressing that their are other forms of corruption at the level of the Youths such as cultism, cybercrime, bullying,drug abuse, lying, stealing, cheating, examination malpractices, falsification of results and sexual harassment.
Her voice “As you can see there are many corruption at this your level and the only thing that will help you to fight corruption is yourself,you first of all deal with yourself,then deal with the other one that’s trying to stop you which is corruption.”
Ase, further identified illiteracy, greed,lack of moral upbringing ,lack of the fear of God as causes of corruption in the society, while encouraging the youths to always do the right thing and stay away from corruption.
One of the participants, Mr Mbah Chukwado, of Saint Mathias high school thanked ICPC for enlightening them about corruption and promised not to toll the line of corruption but rather fight against corruption.
He also advised fellow students to join hands in combating corruption, Chukwado, stressed the need for people to report cases of corrupt practices that’s a menace in the society without being scared of getting harmed.
