Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Civil Society Organisations, Media Accountability and Anti-Corruption Initiative (CMAAI) in Anambra State have tasked women to lead fight against corruption in their communities.
The group made the call when they sensitised the Women Wing of Awka North on the ills of corruption and its far-reaching consequences on society.
Addressing the gathering, the CMAAI team lead, Ugochi Freeman, described corruption as a menace that is crippling the progress and development of the society, urging women to join the fight for its eradication in their communities.
“The programme is part of the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Phase II component three programme supported by the European Union and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) in Nigeria.
“We are here to educate you on the dangers of corruption and the importance of transparency and accountability in governance because it is a menace that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society.
“Corruption can take many forms such as bribery, extortion, and nepotism. To identify corruption, we need to look out for signs such as unfair treatment, favouritism, and lack of transparency. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably corruption.
“If we see or experience corruption, we should report it. We can report to the authorities, the Media, or trusted community leaders. Reporting corruption is a brave way to save our society.
“As community members, we have the power to say no to corruption. We can report corrupt practices, demand transparency, and hold our leaders accountable because we are the eyes and ears of our communities,” she said.
Ugochi emphasised the need to imbibe good moral values such as honesty, integrity, and fairness. She urged them to promote such in their families and to commit to active citizenship to promote accountability and transparency for just and equitable society.
Responding on behalf of the women, Mrs Mary Nwafor, the Woman President-General of Urum community, thanked the team for the initiative and urged them to do the same in other communities.
She also called on the group to help them combat other issues in their communities such as drug abuse, gender-based violence, poverty and hunger.
