The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a major shift in the anti-corruption drive, inaugurated Students Anti-Corruption Clubs (SAC) in 40 private secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), said at the inauguration on Thursday in Abuja that the induction marked a departure from previous years, when the emphasis was mainly on establishing SACs in government-owned secondary schools.

According to him, the students gathered to be inducted into the fight against all forms of corruption and other antisocial behaviours among youths.

The chairman said this development was significant to the commission’s efforts to expand its reach in the anti-corruption space.

Mr Aliyu said youths’ engagement had remained one of the cardinal strategies deployed by the ICPC in line with Section 6 (e-f) of the ICPC Act 2000, which mandates the commission to educate and mobilise the youths against corruption.

He recalled that since its establishment in 2000, the commission introduced interventions in the education sector, including values-based education through the National Values Curriculum (NVC).

The curriculum, developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), aimed to instil uprightness and positive, behaviour-changing values in youths.

He added that the NVC was currently at the review stage after completing its first phase of implementation.

He said the gains recorded from the curriculum at the basic school level necessitated the creation of platforms to sustain these values.

This led to the conceptualisation of SACs in secondary schools and Students Anti-Corruption Vanguards (SAV) in tertiary institutions nationwide.

He stated that the integrity and moral data bank recorded from the outfits could not be overemphasised, with an estimated 20 million Nigerian youths having passed through the integrity reorientation programme from 2003 to date.

Mr Aliyu told the students that their visit to the commission was beyond familiarisation, stressing that they were there because integrity pays in any society.

He expressed optimism that the engagement would improve their knowledge of anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria and guide them toward informed career choices.

He also appreciated partners, including the Gender Mobile Initiative, Women Aid Collective, Step-Up Nigeria, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in the FCT, for their contributions to the programme.

The ICPC boss further commended teachers for their dedication and commitment to moulding the young minds into men and women of honour. He wished all the inaugurated clubs a successful take-off.

The director of the public education department at the ICPC, Demola Bakare, revealed a new strategic direction approved by the ICPC Chairman to intensify the commission’s engagement with educational institutions.

Mr Bakare disclosed that the chairman, alongside officials from the Education Department, would undertake impromptu visits to schools to facilitate interactive sessions with students on values that could transform Nigeria’s developmental trajectory.

In a further innovation, the commission’s engagements with schools will henceforth be integrated into Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings.

This is to create a tripartite platform where parents, teachers and students can collectively participate in value reorientation programmes.

Some of the development partners present at the event lauded the commission for its sustained commitment to preventive approaches in combating corruption through values-based education.

In their respective remarks, they encouraged the students to reject examination malpractice, dishonesty and other unethical practices.

They also urged them to embrace integrity, accountability and responsible citizenship as guiding principles for personal conduct and future leadership.

Some of the students, in separate interviews, expressed determination to join the fight against corruption right from their schools.

Tiamiyu Rilwan from Adeola International School, Kubwa, said he would start by exhibiting integrity among his colleagues.

”I feel like at this stage, it is to exhibit integrity as a student, I will join the train of fighting corruption through the club,” he said.

Toona Obinna, another student, said corruption could be stopped in school by setting a good example and reporting any corrupt activity to the school authorities.

”We can stop corruption in school by reporting to a supervisor or authority. I will also educate other students on the need to fight against corruption,” he said.

(NAN)