Volunteer corps take anti-graft campaign to Computer Village

MEMBERS of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC) last week took the fight against corruption and other anti-social conducts to the heart of Lagos, as they held a rally round the popular Computer Village in Ikeja and its environs.

The rally which began on Awolowo Way, where hand bills were distributed also took the members to Simbiat Abiola Way, Ola Ayeni Street, St Michaels Road and Otigba Street where the computer village is located as enlightenment campaigns against piracy of intellectual property were made.

Speaking on the activities of the group, which is a coalition of NYSC and ICPC, the president, Mr. Kelechi Anyalechi said the idea is to get young people to participate in the fight against corruption. He said if corruption among the young ones can be stopped there is hope for the nation.

“The young ones are the future of this nation and so we want to get them to form the right attitude towards the social malaise. We have had a symposium and we have decided to take it to the next level by coming to Ikeja to sensitize the people since this is the hub of Lagos. There are markets here, we want them to know that they can be patriotic and fight corruption at their level since there are lots of pirating of intellectual property here. We are sensitizing them because we found out that a lot of people are uninformed and so they need to be taught that they have a role to play in nation-building.”

He said corruption goes beyond taking bribe as it involves examination malpractices, sexual harassment, rape, selling sub-standard goods and inflating prices of goods and many more.

“We have been to schools on this campaign and we made them know that corruption is not all about embezzlement but also when they tell lies to their parents to collect money from them. We made them realize that if they can do that now when they get into political office they would be stealing in millions and billions. We campaign against indecent dressing, thuggery, cultism in schools as well, it has made an impact because we did not just go and talk to them, we interacted,” he said.

According to him, the group is planning a parent-teacher-student symposium which will involve the police, civil defence and those who relate with these young people where corruption take place in the homes, schools and public places and interact on the danger of these general social misbehaviours on the society.

On his part, the Secretary of the Group, Mr. Victor Aguwah said they are poised to see that they bring corruption to the barest minimum in the country and this will mean taking it to highest level. He condemned the recent attempted bombing of an airline by a Nigerian youth, describing it as an unfortunate incident which is not good for the nation.

“We believe Nigeria will change and will be great. We now want to have an International anti-corruption Volunteer club where people can freely join in schools,” he said.


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