The Federal government has solicited the support of youths in Nigeria in the ongoing efforts to eradicate corruption in the country.
Speaking on the occasion of International Anti-corruption Day 2024 on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef O. Fegbemi said “I am particularly delighted to address the crucial place and role of our teeming youths in combating this global scourge.
“This important day has been set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness on the deleterious effects of corruption, to undertake a review/assessment of current trends, and to reinvigorate actions/initiatives taken in combating corruption locally and globally.
“Locally, the Inter-Agency Task Team [IATT] of agencies with anti-corruption and accountability mandates with its secretariat, the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms [TUGAR] have since 2009 jointly commemorated the International Anti-corruption Day.
‘These annual events provide a platform for awareness creation and public engagement as government agencies render their scorecard on the fight against corruption.
“The theme of this year, “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping a Better Tomorrow,” underscores the important role of the youths in the fight against corruption, being catalysts for social change themselves.
“In our collective fight against corruption, we need to harness and motivate the energy, passion, and determination of the nation’s youth to achieve the future we all desire”.
The Minister explained; “Corruption erodes the fabric of any society, stifles progress, and deprives the young of educational opportunities, job prospects, engagement in public life, success in sports, access to healthcare and other essential services just to mention a few. It robs governments of the resources that could be used for essential public services like healthcare, education, infrastructure, etc. It fuels inequality, erodes trust in institutions, and undermines the very foundations of democratic societies.
“Throughout history, youths have always been at the forefront of transformative movements. The youths of Nigeria are trailblazers and dynamic forces reckoned with globally.
“They are intelligent, passionate, and brimming with innovative ideas. We must harness their energy and enthusiasm to drive positive change.
“While it is true that young people are often caught in the web of corruption, however, they must be inspired and supported to be powerful agents of change in the fight for a future rooted in integrity.
“To properly secure their buy-in and integrate our youths in the fight against corruption, the elderly ones or the ruling class must lead by example.
“The youths in government must also serve as true ambassadors and exhibit high sense of probity and honesty. Aside ongoing law enforcement efforts, we must frontally address the root causes of the engagement of youths in cybercrime, internet fraud and other corruption-related crimes” he stated.
Fagbemi said it is important to rally the youths into the anti-corruption movement. “We must as a nation foster a Culture of Integrity, integrate anti-corruption values into our educational curriculum, promote national value orientation with emphasis on integrity, transparency, and accountability, establish anticorruption clubs and mentorship programs, encourage youth participation in governance and decision-making processes, leverage on ICT resources to enhance transparency, monitoring (whistleblowing) and awareness about corruption, etc.
“To boost the confidence of youths in current efforts, it is only axiomatic that we continue to strengthen Anti-Corruption Institutions (that is, the Judiciary and Law Enforcement Agencies) with the necessary policies and resources to deliver on their mandates”.
In her address, the Head, TUGAR (Secretariat of the IATT), Mrs Jane O. Onwumere explained that the Inter-Agency Task Team [IATT] is the coordinating forum of agencies with anti-corruption and accountability mandates with its secretariat at the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms [TUGAR].
“This event is organised jointly by the 21 member agencies of the Inter-Agency Task Team [IATT]”.
She noted that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) on 31 October 2003 and designated 9 December as the International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness on corruption and its negative effects.
“This year marks the 21st year since the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day began in 2003. It emphasizes the need to critically review and evaluate both country-specific and the global initiatives to combat corruption in order to measure progress”.
Secondary school debates on social media as an effective tool for meaningful youth engagement in the fight against corruption amongst other engagements were held at the event.
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