The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has reaffirmed the critical role of Nigerian youths in the fight against corruption, describing them as “high-value assets in the national anti-corruption movement.”
Speaking through the Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Demola Bakare, at the official launch of the Anti-Corruption Education Tools and Mobile App in Nigeria, organized by civil society group Step Up Nigeria, Dr. Aliyu stressed that the true success of anti-corruption efforts lies in knowledge transfer 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 stated.
Commending Step Up Nigeria for its innovative civic engagement strategies, Dr. Aliyu lauded the organization for “improving civic awareness, shaping national discourse on governance, and leveraging technology to empower young people to speak out against corruption.”
He emphasized that the responsibility of eliminating corruption cannot be left to anti-corruption agencies alone. “Every citizen must take bold steps. The fight against corruption is a collective one,” he added.
In her remarks, Executive Director and Founder of Step Up Nigeria, Mrs. Onyinye Ough, described the newly launched tools as “a transformative development for integrity education in Nigeria.” She noted that the organization’s mission includes the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms, promoting social accountability through naming and shaming, and building both national and global networks of anti-corruption champions.
Also speaking during the panel session titled Sustaining Anti-Corruption Education Through Innovative Technology, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, Head of the SERVICOM Unit at ICPC, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to engaging young people through education.
“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,” Ogugua explained. “These initiatives empower young people to recognize the importance of their voices in the movement to eradicate corruption.”
The Country Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Touré, represented by Princess Chifero, praised Step Up Nigeria’s efforts in encouraging schools to adopt integrity-focused practices and for its commitment to leveraging technology in the anti-corruption drive.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Step-Up Nigeria Mobile App, designed to provide young Nigerians with on-the-go access to anti-corruption resources and educational content.
The launch also featured an exhibition showcasing interactive educational tools, including storybooks, board games, animated films, and virtual reality content.
The event drew key stakeholders from the anti-corruption ecosystem, including representatives from the MacArthur Foundation, UNODC, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, and the USAID-SCALE Project (Palladium), among others.