In a determined move to harness the energy and integrity of young Nigerians, the Oyo State office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged members of the ICPC/NYSC CDS Group to take up the mantle as frontline advocates in the war against corruption. The call was made during a sensitisation session recently organised for corps members, where ICPC underscored the indispensable role of young people in reshaping Nigeria’s ethical landscape.
Delivering the welcome address, Mr Akin-Taiwo Bankole of the Public Education Unit urged corps members to rise with courage and actively participate in the anti-corruption crusade.
Bankole further described young Nigerians as the nation’s greatest asset, vibrant, intelligent, and full of hope. “Nigeria looks up to you,” Bankole emphasised. “Wherever you find yourselves—whether in your place of primary assignment, your community, or your future workplace always take a stand against corruption.”
Barrister Bisola Sanusi of the Legal Department provided an overview of the ICPC, explaining its core mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, while also educating citizens on ethical conduct. Her presentation helped corps members understand the legal framework backing their role as change agents.
Delivering a lecture titled “The Urgent Need to Fight Corruption,” Mr Oscar Ndukwe of the System Studies and Review Department painted a sobering picture of corruption’s toll on the nation. He warned that when public funds are mismanaged or stolen through corrupt practices, the entire country is put at risk. “Corruption has weakened many of our institutions, reducing their effectiveness and eroding public trust,” Ndukwe said.
He stressed that the ICPC’s preventive role—particularly through system studies and reviews in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)—remains crucial in closing loopholes before funds are lost. He encouraged corps members to serve as watchdogs, reporting any suspicious or corrupt practices around them, and to actively contribute to building a better Nigeria through personal example and civic vigilance.
Similarly, Mr Tope Eegunjobi, also from the System Studies and Review Department, urged corps members to join hands in fixing Nigeria, reminding them that they are not just participants but future leaders of the country. He called on everyone present to promote honesty, transparency, and accountability in their daily activities and workplaces. “The fight against corruption begins with each of you,” Eegunjobi said. “Let integrity guide your decisions, and let courage drive your actions.”
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, during which corps members asked questions and shared their own experiences, followed by a group photograph to commemorate the occasion. Through this engagement, the ICPC reaffirmed that empowering young people is not merely an option but a necessity in building a corruption-free Nigeria.