By Oladipo Airenakho
Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences (ICPC) commissioner for Edo/Delta, Mr. Olukile Olusesan, has said the Nigerian government would be depriving itself of a great opportunity if it fails to harness women’s role as agent of social change in the crusade against corruption.
Mr. Olusesan recently made this known at a meeting of Edo Women Alliance Against Corruption, held in Benin City, capital of Edo State, Nigeria.
“It is a meeting inspired by our conviction in women’s insightful capacity to drive home the need to be scornful to corruption and other related social vices that are detrimental to societal development.
“It is a fact through researches that women’s abilities are considered to be of high degree bearing in mind the determinant roles they play from the homestead,” he remarked.
Mr. Olusesan, who noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated in full capacity the political will, total commitment and determination to fight corruption despite great odds, stressed the need for Nigerians to give his administration total complimentary support and commitment to its laudable effort.
The ICPC boss hinted further that besides parenting responsibilities, the women have the potentials and propensity to inspire sustainable transformation and create a new environment not for themselves and their children alone, but for the entire nation which the country must key into to get itself out of the economic doldrums.
He however pointed that all hands must be on deck to tackle the ugly menace called corruption noting that, it is an unfriendly friend with a murderous capacity, if not checked just as he said the degree of the responsiveness and responsibilities of Nigerians to fighting corruption will determine their resilience to corruption and the type of future they would want to bequeath to the next generation.
Speaking on behalf of the women on the benefit of the meeting with the ICPC, Mrs. Jane Osagie, Coordinator, International Reproductive Rights, Research Action Group, described the event as apt and a success, saying it has given them the opportunity to contribute their suggestions on how the scourge of corruption can be reduced in the country if not totally eradicated.
