Anti corruption group, Eagle Eye Transparency and Integrity Initiative (EETAII) in collaboration with Independent Corrupt practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have sensitised maritime stakeholders on combating corruption through education and collaborative efforts.
Speaking at the event that was held in Lagos on Thursday, the President of Centre for Change, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, a keynote speaker at the event stated that tackling corruption in the country requires demonstrable will at the highest level of government and the willingness by the people to support the law enforcement in tackling corruption in the ports and the country at large.
Odumakin while lamenting the current terrible state of corruption in the country stated that one only needs to live in Nigeria for a short period to feel the breath and odour of corruption stating that corruption exists almost everywhere in the country.
She added that Nigeria was bleeding under the weight of corruption and “we can no longer ignore the prevailing mass poverty, hunger, unemployment, decayed medical and educational systems, poor infrastructure and absence of social services which are indicators of damaging effects of corruption.”
She said that Nigerians have suffered immeasurably from corruption and “the time to own the War Against Corruption is now.”
She urged stakeholders present at the event to resist the temptation to remain silent while corruption erodes our basic values.
Speaking also, Mrs. Mary Omonayan, an Assistant Chief Superintendent at the Lagos State Office of the ICPC urged participants at the event to participate actively in bringing about change in Nigeria.
She stressed the need for concerted efforts and mobilisation of broad-based interest groups to effectively fight the monster at all levels.
She said that Nigerians must cultivate the courage to be positively different and speak up against corruption.
She informed that the Commission is engaging different strata of society through public education and mobilisation on various platforms such as the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP), National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC), town hall meetings, religious leaders’ forum, National Values Curriculum among others.
She added that the citizens’ involvement would provide everyone an opportunity to influence public decisions because the worst impact of corruption in Nigeria is the destruction of personal and national integrity.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the Eagle Eye Transparency and Integrity Initiative, Comrade Anthony Shuaibu informed that EETAII is an organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with the aims and objectives which includes but not limited to services and service effectiveness through networking and collaboration, organizing regular educational and informative programs, organise sensitisation programs, training and community services.
Shuaibu added that as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), the group embark on advocacy and community mobilization in order to achieve the onerous task of fighting corruption in and outside the ports.
He added that through hard work and honesty, the ICPC recognized the group and granted them registration as a member of the National Anti-Corruption coalition (NACC) being coordinated by the Commision.
He said the group undertook to interface with relevant government agencies within and outside the Ports adding that through harmonious working relationships, the group was able to set a pace which led to successful conflict resolution between the group and its members and stakeholders in general.
Photo: The President of Centre for Change, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (2nd from left); the National President of the Eagle Eye Transparency and Integrity Initiative (EETAII), Comrade Anthony Shuaibu (middle) and other panelists; during a sensitization programme for maritime stakeholders organized by EETAII in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), in Lagos, yesterday.
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