The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN has reaffirmed the pivotal role of Nigerian youths in the ongoing fight against corruption, describing them as high-value assets in the national anti-corruption movement.
Dr. Aliyu made this known at the official launch of Anti-Corruption Education Tools and Mobile App in Nigeria, organized by Step Up Nigeria, a civil society organization committed to promoting integrity and good governance.
Represented by the Commission’s Spokesperson, Mr. Demola Bakare, fsi, the ICPC Chairman emphasized that the real victory in the fight against corruption lies not in statistics but in the successful transfer of knowledge to the younger generation.
“The real impact in the war against corruption is not in the figures but in the evidence of knowledge successfully transferred, embodied by youths, and translated into their own words as they become champions in the fight,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu commended Step-Up Nigeria for its continued efforts in improving civic awareness, shaping national discourse on governance, and leveraging technology to empower young people to speak out against corruption.
He further charged participants to understand that the responsibility to rid Nigeria of corruption cannot rest solely on the shoulders of anti-corruption agencies, stressing that ” every citizen must take bold steps. The fight against corruption is a collective one.”
Also speaking at the launch, the Executive Director and Founder of Step-Up Nigeria, Mrs. Onyinye Ough, who described the new tools as a transformative development for integrity education in Nigeria highlighted the organization’s mission to integrate innovative technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms, promote social accountability through mechanisms such as “naming and shaming,” and build a nationwide and global network of anti-corruption champions.
As part of the panel discussion on Sustaining Anti-Corruption Education Through Innovative Technology, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, Head of SERVICOM Unit at ICPC, reiterated the Commission’s dedication to working with young people through education and information-sharing initiatives.
She noted that several ICPC programs—including the Students Anti-Corruption Clubs (SACs) and the National Values Curriculum (NVC)—are designed to instill ethical values and inspire behavioral change among youths. “These initiatives empower young people to recognize the importance of their voices in the movement to eradicate corruption,” she said.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Director, Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Touré, represented by Princess Chifero, applauded Step-Up Nigeria for recognizing schools that have adopted proactive measures to build a culture of integrity. He praised the group’s commitment to deploying technology in the fight against corruption.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Step-Up Nigeria Mobile App, a new tool that aims to provide young Nigerians with easy access to anti-corruption resources and education on the go.
The event also featured an exhibition of interactive anti-corruption education tools, including storybooks, board games, animated films, and virtual reality content.
The launch attracted key stakeholders in the anti-corruption space, including representatives from the MacArthur Foundation, UNODC, the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, and Palladium (USAID-SCALE Project), among others.