From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
18 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have amplified a campaign that will demand a powerful affirmation of resilience and unwavering resolve towards transforming the Nigerian corruption landscape using behavioural insights and interventions.
The CSOs which include Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Step-Up Nigeria, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Arewa 24, NIPPS, Integrity, Chatham House, among several others, worked on a six years project on corruption under the platform of the Behaviour Change Cohort of the MacArthur Foundation.
The CSOs said, in the cause of the project, they observed that several approaches against corruption have yielded little or no result, hence the decision to adopt preventive measures by championing a campaign that will herald positive changes in the people’s behaviours and attitudes towards corruption.
Meanwhile, at an interactive session in Abuja, on Tuesday, the representatives of the CSOs, in their different submissions, highlighted how corruption has affected the socioeconomic growth and development of Nigeria, and stressed the need for collective efforts to tackle the challenges.
In her submission, Feranmi Iyanda, from Step-Up Nigeria, stated that their efforts over the years in educating and enlightening the people against corruption yielded the desired results, making reference to recent UNODC and NBS reports which indicated that Nigerians are resisting the temptation to give or receive bribe.
She further suggested that the anti-corruption campaign be embedded in the educational curricula being use in schools, and also encouraged strong advocacy drive to make people understand that a lot can be achieved righteously without bribery and corruption.
Similarly, Patience Ismaila Zeera, Project Coordinator at the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, on behalf of the Cohort expressed gratitude to MacArthur Foundation for the partnerships that have fueled their mission of change.
She highlighted the impact of their initiatives, adding that the work of the Cohort has reached diverse communities and sectors across Nigeria, benefiting millions through innovative use of media and technology.
“As we look to the future, the Cohort require continued collaboration with stakeholders to sustain and expand the efforts, and we must
emphasize the importance of a united front against corruption in Nigeria,” she added.