A Non-Governmental Organization, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has trained public secondary school teachers on tackling corruption in Kano State.

CITAD’s Executive Director, Y. Z. Ya’u, said the programme was part of the CITAD’s Anti-Corruption and Accountability Project which aimed at tackling corruption in Nigeria and help in entrenching democracy.

Ya’u, who presented a lecture title, ‘Assessing the anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria since 1999: challenges and prospects’, said CITAD was complementing the work of anti-corruption agencies in the country.

Ya’u, who was represented by the Head of Anti-Corruption and Accountability Project, Malam Ali Sabo, said the programme was part of the CITAD’s efforts in creating awareness against corruption in the country.

“We are creating awareness among citizens so that they become aware of the dangers of corruption and its negative consequences in society.

“We’re also training young people and social influencers to join hands together to utilize social media to hold leaders accountable, to pressurise the government to fight corruption,” he said.

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He further recalled how anti-corruption efforts started and how it’s currently derailing to more of talking than acting.

According to him, lack of political will and the recent pardoning of convicted governors are some of the factors discouraging anti-corruption agencies from carrying out their responsibilities diligently.

He added that there were challenges and prospects in genuine anti-corruption efforts in the country.

Ya’u noted that fighting corruption should be holistic and at all levels of governance.

In his contribution, the Head of Public Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kano Command, Mr Idris Isyaku said the programme aligns with the EFCC’s Catch Them Young and Zero Tolerance for Corruption.

“We also have a programme called Catch Them Young at primary schools and Zero Tolerance for Corruption in higher institutions,” Isyaku said.

He further revealed that the anti-graft agency developed a mobile application, “Eagle Eye”, to allow people to report corruption cases remotely.

Some of the participants, Mustapha Kabir Kabara and  Bello Ado Mahmud from Government Girls Secondary School Dorayi said they learned anti-corruption strategies that would help them to teach other students.

The Star