In a bit to achieve a corrupt free Nigeria, it is important that every institution that commands large followership promote morality and social responsibility, be encouraged to prioritize the crusade against corruption. To this end, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) an NGO based in Lagos with the support of Actionaid, UKaid, Department for International Development and SCRAP-C held an Anticorruption Town Hall meeting with the theme: “Strenghtening the Moral Institutions in Building A Corrupt Free Society” at the Presken Hotels, Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday 20th August, 2019.
Addressing participants in his goodwill message, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Directorate, Mr. Waheed Ishola commended the organizers for been apt in sensitizing the people especially Lagosians on the need to jointly fight the cankerworm ravaging the country which the young ones now see as a normal way of life. He noted that as an Agency of the government with the mandate to mobilize, educate and sensitize the citizenry on favourable government programmes, policies and activities, the agency will use all its platforms to assist PAACA in carrying out laudable programmes towards the issue of corruption in our society. Furthermore, he urged the participants, members of religious and traditional institutions to imbibe the 7 Core Values as enshrined in Chapter 2 section 23 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). These are: Discipline; Integrity, Patriotism, Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance and Self-Reliance for a better society.
The Director emphasied that Religion, in whatever form, whether Christianity, Muslim or Traditional faith are all concerned with human conduct; meant to mould human behaviour for good, tolerance, self-control, harmonious relationships of love, forgiveness and compassion instead of divisive tendencies of hostile feelings and negative thoughts to each other. He urged the people to keep to the tenets of their faith which undoubtedly encouraged good neighbourliness and fear of God.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director of PAACA, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu noted that the anticorruption town hall meeting was primarily to explore a religious dimension to mobilizing Nigerians to own the anti-corruption fight. Raise independent voices and stimulate the demand for good governance among traditional leaders. Develop a uniform anticorruption message for advocacy in the religious and traditional circle and institutionalise the fight against corruption.
Other speakers at the event includes: Mr. Ayo Oyewole, Head of Public Affairs Department, EFCC Lagos State, Reverend Isreal Oyetunji, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ikeja, Lagos State; Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf, Associate Prof. Department of Actuarial Science, University of Lagos, Akoka; Rev. Dr. Isaac B. Bamigboye, Ajagunmolu Gospel Cherubim and Seraphim Church; Imam Maruf Ahmed, Chief Imam Owutuland, Agric Ikorodu, Lagos, Primate (Dr.) S.S. Omosanya(JP), OAIC Alimosho Local Government Chapter; Engr. Lukman Balogun, Secretary-General, Conference of Islamic Organization, Lagos State amongst others.
The highpoint of the event was the anticorruption pledge made by all.