A non-governmental organisation, The Signature Communications Limited, has explained that its anti-graft campaign at the grassroots was to eliminate corruption at the source from where it recruits its army.
The Chief Executive Officer, Chief VinMartin Obiora Ilo, stated this at an event to mark World Anti Corruption Day.
Apart from giving Nigerians an opportunity to evaluate the efforts of the organisation in the anti-corruption campaign, the Signature Communications boss said the Anti-Corruption Icon award was to celebrate some Nigerians who have resisted corruption even in the face of scorching poverty.
Put together by its pidgin English television programme, Corruption Tori, Ilo who noted that the programme aired on some national televisions, targets real Nigerians, in contrast with the language of the anti-corruption messages of the country which is elitist.
“From the onset, we choose to focus our efforts at the grassroots. Our reason was double fold. In the first place, corruption recruits its army from the lower level of the society many of who are misguided in their effort for social, political or economic up-ward mobility. Those who pull through begin to set the corruption value at the top. To tackle the problem at the grassroots is to dry the source.
“Our second reason is that the present language of the anti-corruption messages is elitist, speaking above those who provide recruits for the corruption. If we speak in their language, they could get converted out of the culture of corruption-endorsement, encouragement or active engagement,” he said.
He said during their four years of operation, they encountered corruption in its worst and destructive elements, adding that there were also Nigerians “who have given us hope that corruption cannot take over the Nigerian turf, destroying trust, integrity, sense of honour, good governance and development.
“These Nigerians have resisted corruption even when the temptation from poverty, low social standing, being looked down upon by others because they cannot fulfill their obligations to their family, creditors and friends, created conditions for them to act corruptly.”
Highlights of the occasion included awards presentation to some deserving individuals in the rural areas who distinguished themselves in the war against corruption as well as students from various schools who excelled in the essay competition on the topic of anti-corruption.
