Five secondary schools in Enugu will compete in the finals of the 2021 Integrity Debate Competition for secondary schools in the state.
They are Osisatech Girls Secondary School; Transekulu Girls Secondary School; Queens Secondary School; Government Secondary School and Federal Government College, Enugu.
The keenly contested competition saw the elimination of four secondary schools, while several others could not meet the criteria set by the organisers.
Speaking at the event held in partnership with Fine Brothers Ltd, Enugu State government and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Crimes Commission (ICPC), Country Programme Director of Global Society for Anti-Corruption (GSAC), Mrs Amaka Nweke, said the competition was a way of promoting anti-corruption exercise among youths, especially students.
Nweke lamented that the society was making a downward leap by corrupt tendencies, especially among the youths, adding that the debate was a way of calling their mind to upright virtues.
She explained that the theme of the programme revolved around changing corrupt practices narrative of Nigerians in the onward march to a corruption- free society.
Nweke said the organisation, had, in the past, partnered with the state government to drive home the message of integrity to its people.
“As a matter of fact, this current competition would not have been a success without the active collaboration and support of the state chief executive, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and his team of education and child development experts.
“GSAC appreciates all that the state government has done and is doing in the direction of child development and efforts in promoting anti-corruption education in the state. The governor remains a pacesetter in promoting anti corruption and integrity in the state. The programme of GSAC being anti-corruption inclined has always been in partnership with the ICPC and EFCC. We will not relent until sanity is restored and integrity becomes our mantra,” she said.
Head, Public Enlightenment and Education at the ICPC, Godwin Achili, lamented that corruption had eaten deep into the fabric of the nation and has continued to deprive the nation opportunities for development.
National Coordinator, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said the debate would stimulate the enthronement of virtues that would promote a better society.
Amaraizu said POCACOV was launched, following its realisation that the society’s future was bleak with growing corrupt tendencies and other cult related activities.
