By: Umar Mohd
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has organized a special training for about 60 Journalists on corruption prevention held at Rockview Hotel Royale in Abuja.
The training engagement attended by ICPC management, some NUJ national officers and Chairmen of NUJ State Councils with Mass Communication specialist, Prof Umar Pate who served as Guest Speaker.
Speaking during the training, the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN commended NUJ for their commitment and professionalism in contributing towards fighting corruption in the country.
He explained that the essence of collaborating with NUJ to have such training for about 60 Journalists is to chart a new course in promoting Anti corruption mechanisms across the country.
” The collaboration with NUJ is to have strategic ideas to have contributions on the next phase of Anti corruption objectives by having robust programs to rub minds on how to promote transparency and accountability in our transactions aimed at building the country he said.
ICPC Chairman said the media is a powerful tool to fight corruption especially in their role of investigating corruption cases, saying without a vibrant media, the fight against corruption will be meaningless.
Dr Musa stated that ICPC believes in preventive measures which are important in preventing corruption cases, saying fighting corruption is not only the role of his commission rather responsibilities of all Nigerians.
Also speaking, the NUJ President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi thanked ICPC for the collaboration and directed all Chairmen in their respective states to initiate such a move with the head of ICPC to have similar collaboration.
He described the media as the catalyst for any meaningful development in the society or country, hence his decision to collaborate with ICPC in trying to promote transparency and accountability in our MDAs.
Comrade Alhassan said the nomination of 36 states NUJ Chairmen including that of the FCT Abuja among the 60 Journalists was a deliberate one to champion the anti corruption crusade across the country.
Declaring the training opened, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Muhammad Idris represented by the Director General Voice of Nigeria (VON) Jibrin Baba Ndace stated that the partnership between ICPC and NUJ is the best in trying to sustain the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“We are in the age of Noise and Misinformation, therefore the ICPC, NUJ training is timely and necessary. Journalists and social media influencers are two different because journalists are professionally trained to disseminate accuracy for development” he added
The Minister commended NUJ President for his vibrant leadership since he assumed the leadership of the union and urged him to sustain the tempo.(Echo Express)
