- Inaugurates anti-corruption clubs in Benue, Sensitizes students on ethical values in Imo
By PAUL MICHAEL, ABUJA
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (BSUBEB) has organized a one-day sensitization lecture on the National Values Curriculum (NVC), for the executive and management staff of the agency.
The programme, which took place at the multi-purpose hall of BSUBEB, Makurdi and was aimed at discussing how to inculcate sound moral values in youths as well as achieve the goal of raising a generation of morally upright Nigerians, became necessary as part of ICPC bid to prevent corruption and related offences in the education sector.
Delivering his paper titled: “ICPC’s Intervention in the Education Sector: the National Values Curriculum”, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of ICPC, Benue State, Mr. Chile Ogwuegbu gave a brief background of ICPC, and emphasized that the Commission identifies youths as critical stakeholders in the fight against corruption, The Trumpet gathered.
Mr. Ogwuegbu said that they were societal norms that revolve around ethical conduct and integrity, adding that “the Nigerian society had been known for its rich cultural values of honesty, the fear of God, integrity, truthfulness, respect for elders, constituted authorities and the values of doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
He said, it was in an effort to resuscitate these values that ICPC engaged in values rejuvenation and re-orientation by introducing the National Values Curriculum, adding that the Curriculum was to fill an ethical gap observed in the country’s educational system and to expose the Nigerian child to a sustained value-based curriculum.
Explaining further, he said that, since the NVC could not be taught as a subject on its own because of the over-stretched timetable, its elements were infused into already existing school subjects such as Civic Education, English Language, Social Studies, Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Religious Studies at basic levels.
Earlier, Chairman of BSUBEB, Comrade Joseph Utse, in his opening remark expressed the desire of Board to partner with ICPC in infusing and implementing the curriculum among students.
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He urged the participants to attentively participate and interact freely with ICPC while reminding them that the forum was designed to sensitize BSUBEB officers on the steps to be taken in the implementation of the curriculum.
In another development, ICPC in Benue state has inaugurated two Anti-corruption clubs in two different secondary schools, Saint Dominick High School and Saint Joseph Science and Technical School, Makurdi.
A total of 1025 students were inaugurated as members of the club in both schools.
Mr Ogwuegbu in his lecture advised the students to inculcate the culture of good moral values and to shun all forms of evil within and outside the school environment.
He further stressed that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility of all starting from the youth as they make up over 60 percent of the nation’s population, and they also hold the key to the future of this great nation.
Mr. Ogwuegbu charged members of the club to maintain high moral standards, integrity, honesty and hardwork. Adding that the students should be ready to report any illegal act and corruption to ICPC at all times.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner ICPC in Imo State, Mrs. Chinwe Egbeocha, while speaking at Trinity International College and Alvana Model Secondary School, both in Owerri, urged students to imbibe ethical values by getting involved in the process of eradicating corruption in schools, shun all forms of corrupt practices and embrace integrity as their watch word.
While lamenting the negative affects the corruption in all sectors of the economy especially the education system where exam malpractice has become a worrisome phenomenon, she stressed that the Commission was committed to re-orienting the mindset of the youths and of all Nigerians from believing that corruption is a way of life.
The ICPC representative called on students to join the anti- corruption clubs as one of the effective ways of safeguarding their future and serving the nation.
The principal of Trinity International School, Mr. Osita Nkwonta, while responding to the lecture, said the mandate of the Commission to educate and enlighten teachers and students on and against corruption was a laudable approach which if adhered to, would change their mind-sets positively.
