EFCC Sensitizes Women Civil Societies on Corruption, Economic

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Collaboration with African Center for Media and Information Literacy has organized a One-Day south-east zonal roundtable meeting for women Civil Society Groups to address issues on gender, anti-corruption, Economic and Financial Crimes in the country. 

Speaking at the sensitization workshop held in Owerri recently with the Theme: How Womens Organizations can aid the Fight against corruption, Economic and Financial Crimes, the Executive Chairman EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde averred that the women anti-corruption initiatives is aimed to create opportunities for women organizations to become engaged and carry out more effective corruption monitoring which contributes to improvements in policy formulation.

He added that in an effort to position civil society as a catalyst in the fight against corruption, the EFCC has initiated programmes, including enhancing the investigative skills of journalists and building the capacity of community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and professional groups on budget monitoring and tracking, as the participation of women in anti-corruption initiatives is an addition in the collective effort to rid the society of corruption,

He therefore expressed optimism that, along with other stakeholders, the women groups will join in articulating a structured national response to gender and corruption as well as help establish critical grassroots involvement in the fight against corruption.

In the same vein, the Coordinator, African centre for Media &Information Literacy, Chido Onumah, in his welcome remarks noted that the occasion is the third in a series of planned interventions that targets women as catalysts in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes. He further thanked the EFCC for seeing the need to rally women and their organizations to lend their voice and play a role in the anti-corruption campaign.

In his words, Research on gender and corruption shows that the gendered dimensions of corruption are complex. Therefore we must pay close attention to the socio-economic and cultural norms that shapes the lives of women, particularly in a developing country like ours. It is the Commissions own commitment to this end that it is working with stakeholders in civil society to develop strategies and action plans that women organizations can adapt in its anti-corruption efforts, realizing the critical  role these organizations can play in the fight against corruption.

Chido Onumah maintained that at the end of the planned intervention which will include similar workshops in other zones, participants will form the core of a platform  Women Anti-corruption Network (WAN) that will form a forum for the EFCC and civil society to interface on gender and corruption, as well as an avenue for stakeholders to advance their own agenda on the role of women in anti-corruption, economic and financial crimes.

Story by: Ebele Osemeke