From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has inaugurated Students Anti- Corruption Clubs (SACs) in 30 public and private secondary schools in Ekiti State.
The inauguration of the clubs which cut some secondary schools in the three Senatorial Districts( Ekiti Central, Ekiti South and Ekiti North) in the state, is in a bid to encourage the students to tread the path of integrity and inculcate positive values in them from their formative years.
The official inauguration and induction of of SACs in the schools was held on Wednesday, in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state by the ICPC in collaboration with the Ekiti State Ministry of Education.
Delivering his key note address,
the Acting Chairman of the ICPC, Clifford Oparaodu, said ” the formation of the anti- corruption clubs is a very important strategy in the fight against corruption. It gives the Commission the opportunity to engage the youths actively in the fight against corruption by inculcating in them sound moral values so that they can grow up with zero tolerance for corruption.
Oparaodu, who was represented by the Resident, Anti-Corruption Commissioner, ICPC, Ondo State Office, Kayode Kupolati, noted that the ICPC has three strong functions as contained in Section 6 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which are, Enforcement, Prevention and Education and Public Enlightenment, noted
that between 2003 and now the ICPC has launched well over 2000 anti-corruption clubs in both public and private secondary schools across the 36 states of the federation.
“In its efforts to prevent corruption, the ICPC followed up the formation of clubs by introducing National Values Curriculum (NVC) in conjunction with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
“The 12 core va
lues as contained in the Curriculum have been infused into subjects like English Language, Religious Studies, Civic Education etc and are currently being taught in primary, Junior Secondary Schools as well as Colleges of Education.
The commission also initiated the National Ethics and Integrity Policy(NEIP) which Wes launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.”
He added that the three projects – the Anti-Corruption Clubs, the National Values Curriculum and the National Ethics and Integrity Policy are being fully implemented with the view to changing the attitude of Nigerians, thereby, preventing corruption in the short, medium and long runs.
Kupolati also commended the Ekiti State Government for its partnership in tackling corruption from the grassroot by educating the students on the need to imbibe positive values at their formative age (catch them young) as contained in the constitution so as to “assume positions of responsibility, zero tolerance for corruption and other social vices.”
Kupolati thereby appealed to all key stakeholders to support the commission in implementing the three core values so as to prevent corruption in the nation at large.
In her welcome address, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye, remarked that the inauguration of the clubs in various schools will help fight against corruption as it will go a long way in changing the current narrative .
The Commissioner, represented by the Tutor-General, Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Amele Victor Oludiran, commended the ICPC for organising the programme, adding that she hoped the students would benefit and educate their colleagues.
Also, the Director of the National Orientation Agency, (NOA) in Ekiti State, Adeyemi Akintola, emphasized on value reorientation as established in the constitution, urging students to be morally conscious and be agents of change in the society.
In his inaugural lecture, on the topic, “Inculcating Positive Values in the Youths Using Anti-Corruption Clubs: The ICPC Perspective” the Head of Public Enlightenment and Education Unit, ICPC Ondo State Office, Suleiman Achile, emphasized on the need to practise integrity, discipline, dignity of labour, religious tolerance, social justice and self reliance as it will help the youths in every sphere of life.
Achile noted that the ICPC has reduced impunity and hoped that the menace will be mitigated with the establishment of the clubs.
The Head of Legal Unit, ICPC, Ondo State Office, Barrister Kehinde Adetoye, Tutor- General, Ekiti South Senatorial District, Mrs Adewumi Omowumi, Deputy, Director, Schools Department, ( Ekiti State) Ilesanmi Bobade, urged the students to uphold virtues of integrity, honesty and character as they took their oath of allegiance.