Nigerians must fight corruption to secure better future for country- RoLAC

Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka

The Rule of Law and Anticorruption (RoLAC) in Anambra State has urged Nigerians to intensify efforts to combat corruption to secure better future for themselves and country.

RoLAC Anambra State coordinator, Dr Josephine Onah made the call on Tuesday during a street campaign and Town Hall Meeting organized by Anambra State Anti-Corruption Strategy (ANSACS) Steering Committee in commemoration of International Anti- Corruption Day themed “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption — Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”

The event was held in partnership with Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Civil Society and Media Accountability and Anti-Corruption Initiative (CMAAI), with funding support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme.

Speaking during the road match, Onah said the rally and Townhall was targeted at creating wider visibility to the anti-corruption and service delivery transparency campaigns in the state. She also said the events offered stakeholders opportunity to create awareness of the ills of corruption, saying the menace not only weakens democracy, but fuels inequality.

“The event is part of activities marking the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day, themed “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption — Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”

“Corruption destroys systems, weakens service delivery and limits development. So, we must unite to defeat it.” She said.

“It is now a norm that people barely recognise the damage it does, but we cannot build a future on rot. We must dismantle corruption completely for the sake of generations coming after us,” she added.

Onah said the year’s theme is remarkable because it involves youths, encouraging inter-generational responsibility, ensuring continuity, and allowing for the training and nurturing of the upcoming generation.

“We’re here to tell the youths that’s it time to walk the talk of all we have been telling them over the years. We have agreed that together, we’ll make the difference.

“Corruption is so bad that it weakens our democracy and fuels inequality. That’s why we have taken a resolve to say no to it.

“I want you to be compassionate about what we’re doing because it’s only with your passion that we can achieve key milestones which will assist us in shaping integrity and promoting accountability and transparency.”

Also speaking, a consultant with ROLAC, Prof Onyeukwu Onyeukwu, regretted the damages corruption had caused the country.

“Globally, corruption has become a big threat. So much resources are wasted through corruption. There’s so much violence across the world; and corruption is a major driver of conflicts.

“Corruption is the reason many of our youths getting frustrated on daily basis as opportunities are not available. Because you can’t access the few available opportunities, you must know who that knows who.

“That’s why we’ve resolved to fight it globally, and oday’s camping in the state is our own contributions to the fight,” he added.

Lead consultant, Prof. Ada Chidi-Igbokwe, said Nigerians can win the anti-graft war if individuals stop enabling the system.

“Corruption is not invincible. We must stop blaming only leaders and begin policing ourselves. Do the right thing even when no one is watching — that is integrity.

Coordinator of CSOs Media Accountability and Anticorruption initiative, CMAAI, Ugochi Freeman, stated that fighting corruption is a collective responsibility, urging Nigerians to take ownership of their actions to achieve a corruption-free society.

She also emphasized the need for political will to implement existing laws and hold individuals accountable, saying people should be responsible for their actions and that office holders should be held accountable.

“People should begin to take responsibilities for their actions. We have laws to stop corruption but what matters is having the political will to make sure that those laws work.

“We need to make sure that our laws are working and be able to implement them. By so doing, we’ll hold the office holders and the people accountable,” she said.