The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has said that if lasting change is desired, the values, attitudes and behaviours that shape people’s choices must be influenced.
Mr Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said this at the inauguration of the National Schools Integrity Programme (NSIP) and School Anti-corruption Clubs (SACs) in five secondary schools in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The inauguration was part of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of Koso Community Grammar School and sensitisation of students to anti-corruption practices.
SACs were also inaugurated at Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Islamic High School, Blue Crescent College, and Ilado/Sagbo Community Grammar School.
The ICPC chairman said that the advocacy to schools was not to frighten children with stories about corruption but to equip them with values, knowledge and to encourage them to recognise and reject corruption.
Mr Aliyu said that NSIP was one of the ICPC’s flagship long-term character-formation and preventive anti-corruption initiatives targeted at primary and secondary school students in Nigeria.
He said that the commission, apart from being responsible for fighting corruption, also has a mandate to promote public education and preventive anti-corruption consciousness.
The chairman said that experience had shown that corruption could not be sustainably addressed through investigation and prosecution alone.
“If we desire lasting change, we must also influence the values, attitudes and behaviours that shape the choices people make.
“That work must begin early before dishonest habits become deeply rooted, before the abuse of power becomes normalised, before young people begin to believe that success can only be achieved through shortcuts,” he said.
Mr Aliyu also said that the fight against corruption must begin in the home, school and with children, adding that better Nigeria could not be achieved without incubating better character.
He urged students and Nigerians in general to build character and integrity and not wait until they occupied public offices before fighting.
In his remarks, President of the Koso Community Grammar School Alumni Association, Taofeeq Adegoke, said the school, established on September 26, 1976, had produced leaders in different spheres of life.
Mr Adegoke, represented by Afeez Ayetoro, said that corruption in schools start from classrooms with exam malpractice, stealing and dishonesty.
He said it was essential to teach students and children values of honesty and integrity to secure the future of Nigeria.
An ICPC National Director, Demola Bakare, who is an alumnus of Koso Community Grammar school, urged students to shun corruption and dishonesty to build a good future.
Mr Bakare said that corruption of any kind was a criminal offence and punishable under the country’s laws.
(NAN)