CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

STRENGTHENING STUDENTS NETWORKS FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT (STUNTS) PROJECT

In the last decade there has been a massive decline of student activism in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. There is a disconnect between student unionism and good governance within and outside the various institutions. Students’ unionism has seen a significant decline, as a good number of students who are saddled with union leadership see such positions as avenues to enrich themselves, curry favour from government and highly placed politicians. Such an outcome poses a significant challenge for the future of Nigeria’s leadership class, given that historically, student unionism has been the pathway through which many of Nigeria’s social justice and political leaders have emerged.

The STUNT project was hence initiated to address the decline of student activism in tertiary institutions in Nigeria by strengthening the leadership skills, knowledge and advocacy capacity of student organizations in tertiary institutions for non-violent activism. The project provides innovative and authentic avenues for dynamic, enthusiastic students’ groups to participate and influence change whilst improving the quality of sustainable life in Nigeria.

Project Location: Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Kano

Project Funder: Ford Foundation

YOUTH PARTICIPATION AGAINST CORRUPTION (YPAC)

Nigeria’s population is said to have reached about 167 million people in 2012 (National Bureau of Statistics). The National Population Commission (NPoC, 2013) states that about half of the population is made up of youth, defined as individuals between 15 to 35 years of age. In addition to representing a significant part of the population, young people tend to be more exposed to bribery and therefore particularly vulnerable to corruption, as they are involved in almost every aspect of society – as students, pupils, workers, customers and citizens, (Transparency International 2009).

Against this backdrop, we believe the youth can play a pivotal role in the fight against corruption. In partnership with a consortium of other Civil society organizations we initiated the YPAC project. The project promotes integrity and resistance to corruption among youths/citizens and increase organized citizen’s actions against corrupt practices. YPAC also works with state partners (ICPC, NOA & NYSC) to improve governance systems and processes to enhance the fight against corruption. The project which is funded through DFID Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) programme, seeks to achieve a reduction in corruption as a result of, both stronger incentives not to loot public funds and changing public attitudes that will increasingly disapprove of corrupt activities.

Mobilizing youths’/youth groups nationally through capacity building, social marketing/behavior change communication and civic engagement are approaches adopted to build a movement of active youth advocates supporting the fight against corruption.

Project Location: Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and FCT

Project Funder: UKAid

KAPB Survey

 

A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practiced Behaviour (KAPB) Survey on youths and corruption in Nigeria was conducted to address corruption that will involve the active participation of youths and youth groups. In that regard, the survey was serves as a baseline study against which future surveys can be compared. Its objectives were to:

  • Assess knowledge, attitude, perceptions, and practiced behaviour of youths as it relates to corruption in Nigeria.
  • Identify the factors that inhibits their active participation in the anti-corruption fight besides curating information.
  • Ascertain their level of knowledge about corruption and its attendant consequences on the economy, growth, society and on them as individuals.
  • Probe youth’s actual experience of corruption at the household and society levels.
  • Assess the impact and influence of social norms on all of the above.
  • The study covered Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Rivers States and involved interviews of a sample size of 3,000 youths including youths with disabilities age 18 – 35 years.

Noshishi4bribe Campaign

 

A mindset reorienting campaign aimed at bringing about behavior change among the youth and encouraging them to resist/report bribery as well as other corrupt activities around them. This was in response to evidence that youths pay nearly 40% of bribes in Nigeria (National Bureau of Statistics’ survey on corruption in Nigeria 2017). Different innovative methods and tools have been adopted under the campaign to engage young people. these include Zero Naira Initiative, Celebrity Engagement, Skits, Music, etc.

Zero Naira

is an initiative that promotes and encourages citizens to resist bribery by circulating a tool that looks like a currency. The dummy currency also serves as an Information Education and Communication (IEC) material, and has bribery reporting hotlines. A symbolism to instill confidence in citizens to say #NoShishi4Bribe. Over 14,000 Zero naira notes have been circulated across the project states and pictures of zero naira note

United Voice Against Corruption

YAF collaborated with musical influencers (Tuface, Simi, Pasuma, Mr P, Sunny Nneji, Timi Dakolo, Waje, ill bliss, Falz, Classiq, Slim Case.) to produce an anticorruption campaign song. This is a call to action song that encourages citizens to shun bribe taking and giving and also amplify voice for young people in resisting corruption

Students Integrity Club

YAF collaborated with ICPC in launching/rejuvenating Integrity clubs in 126 schools in 5 states. The integrity clubs provide adolescents and young people the strategic platform to develop themselves in taking part in the anti-corruption crusade in the country.

Strengthening Integrity in Tertiary Institution (SITI)

Is an intervention under the Youth Participation Against Corruption (Y-PAC) created to support student advocacy for Integrity in Higher Education. The SITI movement which rides on the interest of student union bodies and endorsement by localized tertiary Institutions seeks to address Issues of Extortion, Sexual Harassment, Nepotism or any other form of corruption in Higher Education Institutions. SITI has been established in over 7 schools across 3 states (Rivers, Kano and Lagos)

Integrity Awards

Is an event aimed at celebrating citizens who have shown exemplary acts of integrity and chose to do the right thing against all odds. This was premised on the mantra of “Name and Fame” as against the popular narrative of “Naming and Shaming”. The Integrity Awards presents a promotion of a counter-culture to corruption. The bigger picture beyond the focus on the award recipients is the vision that the exemplary acts of the awardees will inspire other citizens to join the Integrity train by replicating similar acts of integrity in their own spaces.

NIGERIA ELECTION VIOLENCE REPORT (NEVR) PROJECT

Free and fair elections allow people living in a representative democracy to determine the political make-up and future policy direction of their nation’s government. But often times this is impossible to achieve due to elections malpractice and violence largely perpetrated by the youths, this being the bases of our election intervention, we sort innovative approaches of engaging youths for behavior change.

In collaboration with other CSOs and state actors, YAF engaged youths in communities across 9 states on outreaches and campaigns to shun election violence and resist election malpractice. The intervention also monitored the pre, during and post-election cycle for timely violence and misconduct management and control.

Project Location: Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Kano, and FCT state