The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences ICPC, says it has inaugurated over 2,000 anti-corruption clubs and vanguards since the initiative’s commencement in 2003.
The Resident Anti-corruption Commissioner of ICPC in Kaduna, Hassan Mohammed stated at a formal inauguration of anti-corruption clubs in 30 schools within Kaduna metropolis.
The schools include; Government Technical College, Malali, Rimi College, Government Secondary School Narayi, Government Secondary School Kawo, Best Scholars (Benevolence), ECWA secondary school, among other government and private schools within Kaduna metropolis.
According to him, the aim was to breed students into the anti-corruption clubs and to also curtail the menace of corruption in the society.
Mohammed mentioned that the bedrock of any societal development, peace and stability are the youth, which triggered the ICPC to come up with the idea of engaging them through strategies such as NYSC CDS group.
H emphasized that all hands must be on deck in fighting corruption, explaining further that the anti-corruption clubs serve as means of inculcating the tenets of good behavior, ethics and integrity amongst youths.
“We want to catch the students young, now that there minds are not poisoned by corruption and other vices. We believe this is the time to train their minds as to what we want the country to become.”
The Commissioner said ICPC engages members of the clubs and vanguards in line with the guidelines of its establishment, in sensitisation activities as well as essay writing, poetry, recitations, debate and quiz competition among others.
Formally administering the oath of membership to the students, Barrister Mathew Mamman, the ICPC’s Head of Legal Services in Kaduna, said prosecution of offenders is cost effective.
Mamman told the students that they were expected to become vanguards of anti-corruption in their various schools.
He tasked the students on discipline, respect and dedication in their academic pursuits.
Speaking on behalf of Zabib College, one of the anti-corruption clubs beneficiary school, Mr Usman Ahmed, the school’s’ anti-corruption club adviser, said through the club activities, students would be inculcated with the values of honesty and integrity.
He therefore advised the students to begin the fight against corruption in early age which would be beneficial to them and their peer groups.
