The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in collaboration with the NYSC Anti-Corruption Community Development Service (CDS) Group of Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas of Osun State, has organised and supervised an Anti-Corruption Essay Competition amongst students of Secondary Schools.
The Osun State Office of the ICPC carried out the supervision recently, in Olorunda Local Government Secretariat, where participants from across the two LGAs and representatives of some notable schools in other LGAs gathered and took part in the Essay Competition.
The Essay writing competition was centered on the theme, ‘The Impact of Corruption on Nation Building’, for which the participants displayed their intellectual capabilities and writing skills, explaining the various ills that corruption does in stifling the growth of nations.
The event accorded the participating students ample opportunity to display their writing skills and win monetary prizes, creating an enabling platform for anti-corruption sensitization by the ICPC representatives.
The representative of the RACC, Osun State, Mr. Yisa Fahm – an Anti-Corruption Assistant of the ICPC, expressed delight in the turnout of the participants and the commitment displayed by the NYSC Anti-Corruption CDS members in putting the event together, adding that the primary objective of such a competition was to empower young Nigerians and engage them actively in the fight against Corruption.
According to Mr. Fahm, organizing the competition for the students was capable of fostering a culture of integrity and accountability among the young people, adding that the Commission considers the youth very critical in its anti-corruption efforts.
He further encouraged the students to become ambassadors of the anti-corruption crusades being championed by the Commission, highlighting the dangers of corrupt practices to national growth. The officer then, charged the participants and the NYSC members to imbibe the culture of integrity and continue to create awareness within their families, friends and the society at large.
The winners of the Essay Competition were Oluwole Abdulqudus from Government Technical College, Osogbo, who came first with 56% marks, followed by Adekahunsi Samson Temidayo from L.A. Adeniji Grammar School, Aiyetoro, who scored 53% and Uthman Habeebah from Christ Grammar School, Osogbo, who also scored 53% tying for the first runner up position.
The first place winner went home with a cash prize of N30,000 while, the two runners-up clinched N15,000 each.
The President of the Olorunda NYSC Anti-Corruption CDS Group, Gbadagesin Ayoola, thanked the participants for turning out and taking part in the competition, and encouraged them to sustain the commitment in creating the awareness against corruption.
He noted that the competition was not only to encourage and reward academic excellence, but also served as a platform to educate and inspire young minds on the need to be involved in combating corruption in order to foster national development.