By Olawale Lamina
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ,ICPC, has called on Nigerian secondary school students to be proactive and advocate good governance to combat corruption in the country.
This was contained in an address given by Mr. Demola Bakare, the Acting Director of the Public Enlightenment and Education Department at ICPC, who was the keynote speaker at the Junior Chambers International (JCI) Secondary School Debate held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The ICPC Head of Public Enlightenment enumerated the negative effects of corruption on mental health, which include frustration, anger, resentment, depression, and low self-esteem, especially among peers due to the lack of an enabling environment.
The ICPC spokesperson also urged students to be active participants in the fight against corruption by rejecting, resisting, and reporting cases of corruption and highlighted the need for the students to use social media to prompt action and to engage in the political process by registering to vote and supporting the right candidates.
Mr. Bakare who emphasized the importance of taking proper measures to punish corrupt individuals rather than rewarding them, admonished students not to succumb to peer pressure, which could lead to corrupt behavior, charged his audience to “Stay positive always; remember that we are a reflection of our past decisions.”
Also, speaking, the JCI ASO President, JCIN Ambassador Yetunde Adebisi, highlighted the importance of the students’ role in eradicating corruption as future leaders.
Ambassador Adebisi charged the students to view the debate not just as an intellectual exercise but as a catalyst for action, emphasizing that citizen participation was crucial in the fight against corruption.
She pointed out that, “A truly effective fight against corruption cannot rest solely on the shoulders of government institutions; each of us bears a responsibility.”
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Appreciation Award to the ICPC spokesperson, Mr. Demola Bakare, by JCI, in recognition of his involvement in the event.
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