I can’t help but post about current happenings on the Nigerian scene as I get wind of them in the news. I try as much as possible to follow major news stories online at www.nigeriaworld.com everyday to at least have an idea on what is happening in this my beloved nation.

Many times I have in mind to write on something else but I soon discover that I can’t put away a gnawing at my heart to further spread some news to the regular visitors to my site. Just in case they haven’t read it elsewhere(taking into consideration those who live outside Nigeria).

I just read this article on ICPC recruiting 30,000 volunteers to battle corruption. I just hope the training and development content and model deployed for these ones will be adequate enough to equip them to deliver the future for Nigeria in eliminating corruption. I also believe credible Nigerians should be made patrons and partners of and with this initiative so that battling corruption becomes aspirational for these ones. Nigerians who have qualified to be role models by speaking against, standing up against and ruling against corruption should be brought in contact with the volunteers to boost their morale and make their commitment look golden. The Fela Durotoyes, Pat Utomis, Deolu Akinyemis, Gbenga Sesans of this world should be sought out to encourage these recruits by way of training or motivational speaking. Please read the article before I write too much on it.

ICPC recruits 30, 000 volunteers to fight corruption
From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has enlisted 30, 000 volunteers to aid its anti-graft war.

The volunteers, who are being mobilised under the National Anti-Volunteer Corps (NAVC), are to serve as vehicles for mass vigilance and education for attitudinal change against corruption.

Of the number, 2,000 are members of the National Youth Service Corps and they have been deployed to 354 local councils in 15 states.

It is expected that each of the corps members will train a minimum of 50 NAVC members before the end of their service year

National Coordinator of the NAVC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said in Abuja yesterday that the corps now had presence in all states of the federation.

Olamiti stated that the commission would enlist over 10,000 volunteers per state this year to add further bite to the anti-corruption drive.

He said: “National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s (ICPC) vehicle of taking anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots is now fully entrenched in all states of the federation with Lagos State topping the list with 2,500 members, followed by Kaduna with 2,000 and Abia third with 1,900. Altogether, 30,000 volunteers are now registered as members.

“The corps, a brainchild of ICPC’s Chairman, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, is aimed at enlisting ordinary Nigerians in the grassroots and civil society organisations to fight corruption and corrupt practices in all the nooks and crannies of the country.”

On the involvement of corps members, Olamiti explained, “Primarily, the corps members are now the arrowheads for public education, mobilisation and enlightenment against lack of integrity in the grassroots.”

He stressed that the volunteers were involved in helping to monitor public examinations like the Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Examination Council (NECO) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in three states of the federation to ensure integrity in the conduct of examinations, noting that this had led to a significant drop in examination malpractices.

He added: “The NAVC, through the state and local government chapters, had monitored the conduct of re-run elections in some states affected in the last general elections in order to restore sanity and integrity in the con