FGC Warri Emerges Winner Of NCDMB’s Maiden Anti-Corruption Schools Debate

Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State, on Thursday December 5th, 2024 won the maiden ”Anti-Corruption” debate organized for select Secondary Schools across the six geopolitical zones of the nation by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB), in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) at the Content Tower, headquarters of the Board, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

National Wire which monitored the event reports that at the debate umpires said following the evaluation from the presentations by the two finalists, Federal Government College, Kazaure, Jigawa state scored a total of 74.4 points as first runner-up while the Federal Government College, Delta State garnered 76.4 points to emerge winners.

Other schools that participated in the various stages of the debate leading to the finals were Federal Government College, Odi, Bayelsa State, Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos State, Federal Government College, Maiduguri, Borno State, and Federal Government College, Rubochi, Abuja.

National Wire further reports that the theme for the 2024 International Day of Anti-Corruption is, “Effective Whistleblower Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption”, while topic for the debate is, “Impact of integrity on the expansion of public trust and confidence in governance.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, restated the Board’s stance against corruption, noting that fighting corruption is most for the Board.

He reaffirmed his commitment to ideas and programmes geared towards putting an end to corruption within the system, just as he lauded the Federal Ministry of Education for approving the participation of students in the event.

While commending the ICPC for their support and continuous oversight over the activities of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACTU) of NCDMB, Ogbe also thanked the anti-graft unit of the Board for putting the event together, noting that they were doing well in their efforts at combating corruption.

The NCDMB Scribe said: “To be clear on what today is about, we’re marking and celebrating International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), with focus on raising the consciousness of our youths on the ills of corruption and how it stunts the socio-economic development of any Nation. This is to send a strong message for extra vigilance by all of us in combating the menace of Corruption from all fronts”, the NCDMB boss said.

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“In the NCDMB, we’ve taken deliberate steps to curb instances of corruption. We’ve provided adequate support to our ACTU members, by providing a functional office and giving them a free hand to discharge their functions.

“In the area of capacity building and awareness, we’ve deepened our partnership with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria through capacity building trainings for staff, including training in corruption prevention techniques, strategies for effective workplace Anti-corruption campaign, Bribery & Corruption Risk Assessment etc.

“All these underlines the Board’s stance against corruption. In the area of systems check, we have instituted corruption risk assessment covering major functions of the Board, including Human Resources, Procurement, Monitoring & Evaluation, Planning Research and Statistics”.

He added: “In a bid to mitigate vulnerabilities to corruption across the Board, as we mark and celebrate the 2024 Anti-Corruption day, please understand that in our little corners, we need to stand and speak out against Corruption. As students, eschew all forms of examination malpractices; as workers, be diligent in your work and avoid corrupt or fraudulent practices. By doing our little bit, together, we can reduce the negative impact of corruption on our socio-economic lives”.

In the same regard, in his opening remarks, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation of the NCDMB, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, thanked the Executive Secretary of the Board for approving the event, this was just as he lauded students and schools for participating in the programme, advising them to engage constructively and do right as it will be the foundation of their success.

On her part in a paper presentation titled, “From Fear To Courage: Overcoming Barriers to Whistleblowing in Nigeria”, the ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Rivers and Bayelsa States offices, Mrs Ekere Usiere said there was no gainsaying that the scourge of corruption has brought Nigeria to its knees, from economic underdevelopment to social-political decadence

She said: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will definitely kill Nigeria. That is why we need an effective whistleblower mechanism as a critical tool to fight against corruption”.

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