Junior Chamber International (JCI) Aso, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), yesterday appealed to Nigerian youths to shun corruption and other crimes to build a prosperous society that ensures transparency and accountability.
The call was made during the 2024 Secondary School Debate organised by JCI at Nile University in Abuja on the theme: “Whose role is it to fight corruption, the government or the people?”
The president of (JCI) Aso, Yetunde Adebisi, underscored that corruption, in all its forms, erodes democratic principles and economic progress. She emphasised that it undermines trust in institutions that disabled people’s development efforts and unfairly disadvantages the most vulnerable.
Adebisi stated that the programme was hosted for 15 secondary school students across the FCT to help them understand what corruption entails and how citizens can fight it.
She noted that combating corruption is not merely a theoretical debate but a call to action that demands clarity and resolve.
She said all hands must be on deck – youths, government agencies like ICPC, EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, and private institutions – to address these crimes in the country.
She further stated that the primary responsibility lies with the government, which wields significant power through legislation, enforcement agencies, and policies designed to root out corruption. As custodians of public trust and resources, governments must lead by example, ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in all their actions.
Meanwhile, the ICPC chairman, represented by the acting director of the public enlightenment and education department of ICPC, Demola Bakare, stated that when citizens are informed and engaged, they become powerful agents of change, holding both public and private sectors accountable for their actions.
He said, “The government cannot do it alone without the citizens, especially the youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow. We must create awareness for them to shun crimes such as internet fraud and drug abuse in society.”
Bakare also mentioned that the ICPC and other government institutions have made significant achievements in fighting corruption and will continue to support this fight to eradicate corruption in the country.
In his remarks, the 2024 Secondary School Debate chairperson, Ginikachi Tasiebi of JCI ASO, said the debate was organised for secondary school students from public and private schools across the FCT to raise awareness about their role in combating corruption.
She said, “Fifteen secondary schools across the FCT participated in this debate, which is not just an intellectual exercise but a catalyst for action. Let us reaffirm our collective responsibility to combat corruption and strive for a society where fairness, transparency, and accountability reign supreme.”
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