Report of second session of anti corruption training workshop

The effort of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) to build the capacity of the anti-corruption club mentors has on Wednesday 8th June, 2022 continued with the second phase of its four series of the training workshop. The specific objective of the second session training workshop was to guide the secondary school mentors their roles and responsibilities as anti-corruption club mentors, and ways they impart knowledge and help their students to learn about corruption and how to fight it.  In his welcome remarks, Malam Kamilu Isa Ahmad, the program officer of the Engaging Students of Secondary Schools for Raising Awareness about Corruption and Accountability project said that, CITAD has chosen the participants from 18 secondary schools in Kano State to serve as mentors for the anti-corruption clubs established in their respective secondary schools. Therefore, CITAD has responsibility of building the capacity of the participants on how to execute their jobs effectively. He said that a good mentor is a good role model, through words and action, who he is, what he does and offers students a window on a possible career.

To recap the main point discussed during the previous workshop, participants were asked after self introduction to at least tell one thing they could remember during the previous workshop. The following issues were raised during the recap session:

  • Activities of EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies
  • Challenges anti-corruption agencies encounter in their work
  • Corruption is pervasive including school environment
  • Mitigation corruption is the work of everyone
  • Tackling corruption from secondary school level could be the best strategy in fighting corruption 
  • Exam malpractice is another form of corruption and parent contribute a lot especially by allowing magical exam centers to flourish 
  • Schools are producing corrupt products

Malam Sani Ado represented the chairman Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission at the workshop. He presented paper on ‘Understanding the Work of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC). He explained that PCACC helps in establishing corruption prevention practices, and increase citizens knowledge against corruption. He then added that the work of the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission is to receive and investigate complaints from members of the public on allegations of corrupt practices and in appropriate cases, prosecute the offenders. Also, examine the practices, systems and procedures of public bodies and where such systems aid corruption, to direct and supervise their review.

The second presentation was made by Kamilu Isah, as the program officer of the project, Kamilu dwelled deeply on the roles and responsibilities of the participants as anti-corruption club mentors. According to the presentation a mentor should provide guidance based on past business experiences, create positive counseling relationship and climate of open communication, help understand problems and solutions, lead to change through problem solving processes, offer positive reproach in a helpful way, share stories, mistakes and lessons, assign “homework” (if applicable) to test impact, refer understudy to other business associates, solicit feedback from responsibility and come prepared to each meeting to discuss issues. Other roles and responsibilities include organizing periodic discussions on anti- corruption by the mentors, local or internal quiz to enhance commitments, preparing students for general Anti- Corruption Quiz, organizing of Anti-corruption walk in schools, drama and other competitions, tagging anti-corruption massages on school notice boards, leading students to read anti- corruption massages at the assembly ground during assembly and CITAD is expecting other innovation from the mentors.

To discuss, and analyze and explore ideas participants were divided into three groups and asked to work on the following

Group work one

What are challenges that anti-corruption will face and how are these challenges to be addressed? 

Below were the group findings

Group 1

Challenges are as follows:

  • Political influence such as appointment of leaders, (i.e anti corruption), executive may use agencies against opposition, and intervention in judiciary work
  • Socio-economic problems such as poverty, insufficient funding of anti corruption agencies and fear of intimidation
  • Societal problems such as poor enlightenment, illiteracy and lack of competency 

Solutions

  • Appointment should be base on merit. Agencies should be allowed to work independently
  • Special court should be established
  • Measures should be taken to eradicate poverty
  • Funds should be sourced from international bodies such as United Nation (UN) etc
  • Official of the anti corruption agencies should be allowed to work without fear or intimidation
  • The public should be enlightened properly about corruption through media (radio, TV etc)
  • Ethical and competent persons should be employed

 

Group 2

  • Lack of higher standard corruption awareness programs
  • Adaptation of corruption habits
  • Non enforcement of laws even with the existence of anti graft commission in place
  • Political interference 
  • Irresponsible governance
  • Individual involvement in the fight against corruption face the risk of being harassed, intimidated, harm, and compromise by government powerful elites

 

Solutions 

  • We should have sensitizations in programs to create from government and NGOs like CITAD, the problem may be minimized 
  • Frequent enlightenment from the grassroots e.g. home training, schools and other area
  • There should be full implementation of law
  • People should vote good and qualitative leaders
  • The law makers should enact laws for harassment against anti corruption crusaders

Group 3

The challenges are as follows:

  • Lack of support
  • Lack of orientation or awareness programs
  • Political influence
  • Political influence
  • Lack of interest from part of the students
  • Poor implementation of the existence laws
  • Poor correction measures 

Solutions

  • Support should be given to the anti corruption act through finance, motivation, rtc
  • Conducting workshops, seminars, and public enlightenment
  • Political involvement should be deal with accordingly by laws
  • Development of anti corruption model as part of curriculum
  • Corruption cases should not to be allowed to stay long courts
  • There should be mutual understanding between anti corruption and counseling

 

Group work two

How do we integrate anti-corruption teaching in the school syllabus? 

Group 1

  • Syllabus are formed by educational bodies, therefore, mentors can only advise the educational bodies to add national values such as fight against corruption
  • All teachers should served as mentors to integrate anti corruption teaching in their lessons at convenient time
  • At school level, anti corruption clubs should be established, run and motivated
  • Quiz, dramas and competition should be organized or presented occasionally based on anti corruption topics

Group 2

  • The mentors should be advised the government to integrate anti corruption teaching in the school syllabus.
  • The curriculum planners should be urged to make anti corruption as a topic in every term and in every class especially in the following subjects, social studies, civic education, Islamic studies, governments, etc
  • Every teacher as a mentor should try to integrate anti corruption in his or her subjects or in extra curriculum activities 

Group 3

  • Creation of anti corruption clubs
  • Teachers/mentors should have awareness on anti corruption
  • Development and implementation of educational values in the curriculum
  • Contextual teaching of honesty and integrity
  • Presentation of papers of anti corruption in school
  • Teachers or mentors should motivate students on anti corruption
  • Short messages on anti corruption should be fixed on the school notice board. Eg corruption is a virus.

Finally the participants made the following observations:

  • Electronic boards should be used on major roads for propagating anti-corruption messages
  • Anti-corruption mentors should use last weeks for each term and organize programs on anti-corruption
  • There are challenges of funding the activities of school anti corruption clubs
  • CITAD should be visiting the anti corruption clubs in secondary schools 
  • The mentors need means of identifications for the anti-corruption clubs