Members of the Students Anti-Corruption Club of Government Secondary School, Lugbe, Abuja have been charged to uphold positive values in their daily activities.
This charge was delivered by Mr. Michael Atodo of the Public Enlightenment & Education Department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) when the students paid an educational visit to the headquarters recently.
Mr. Atodo explained that corruption erodes the ethical base of the society, causes economic retardation which leads to infrastructural decay and lack of basic amenities which were meant to be rendered, and then urged the students to uphold diligence, excellence, honesty, merit and integrity in all their dealings.
“ICPC has identified twelve (12) positive values that needed to be taught to every child and it is important that you abide by them all. These values include honesty, discipline, justice, right attitude to work, citizen’s rights & duties, national consciousness, contentment, courage, concern for others, family values, religious values & traditional values.”
He added that the Commission has been reducing corruption through its enforcement, prevention and public enlightenment mandates, and has also achieved a lot through the passing and implementation of policies to mitigate the scourge of corruption not only amongst students but the society at large.
“The ICPC has achieved a lot of successes in reducing corruption – it has reduced impunity, it has instilled fear of punishment in Nigerians, inaugurated Anti-Corruption Clubs in secondary schools so I am urging you all to imbibe the virtue of integrity as change begins with you; report corrupt practices to ICPC and educate people around you on the ills of corruption and the need to cultivate those core values.” he said.
Earlier in his address, Mr. Kalu Collins, a senior officer of the Commission and representative of the Head of Public Enlightenment and Education Department, charged the students to shun corruption in any form because it is evil.
“It was about six months ago that we inaugurated you (students anti-corruption club) and you have deemed it fit to visit us today to know more about ICPC…” he said.
The highpoint of the visit was the tour of the Commission’s detention facility which was recently upgraded as part of the ongoing construction and renovation works at the headquarters.