The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa has called on women in the country to stand up for what is right and support the fight against corruption.
He gave the charge at a workshop on Gender Dimension of Anti-Corruption in Nigeria, jointly organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, the Empowerment of Women and Technical Unit in Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms, held in Abuja.
Bawa who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hadiza Gamawa said, bringing the relevant tools and encouraging women at various levels to acquire the skills, knowledge and the resources to contribute their quota in nation building will complement efforts in the fight against corruption.
“We need a more collaborative system for women to foster and for the society to thrive and be free of economic and financial crimes, as corruption is neither masculine nor feminine, but a product of an opportunity,” he stated.
Mrs. Maryam Uwais who represented the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, noted that corruption constitutes serious threat to good governance, rule of law, insecurity and development.
He said funds that could have been invested in poverty alleviation and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals are diverted by a greedy and selfish minority.
Also, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr. Oliver Stolpe, in a presentation titled: “Gender and Corruption in Nigeria”, said, though it has been argued that women are less likely to be involved in bribery than men, the debate on whether policies that promote gender equality in positions of power can effectively reduce corrupt practices has gained momentum in recent years.
The event featured a panel session on “Corruption Prevention and Good Governance” with Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Sadiq Isah Radda, Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Hadiza Zubairu Gamawa, represented by Dr. Enakeno Oju, Board member of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC), Ms. Hannatu Muhammad, founder, Integrity Organisation limited, Mr. Soji Apampa, among others.
Nneka Ukachukwu
