YIAGA Urges Africans Youths to Fight Corruption
Africa Youth Day is a day set aside every year to promote the increased recognition of youth as key agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development in all areas of African Society. It is an occasion to celebrate the youth on the continent, opportunity to contribute and channel youth motivation, energy and creativity towards political, social and economic renewal. The African Union theme of the year is, “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.” The Africa Youth Day theme for 2018, “Raising Youth Voices against Corruption in Africa” is in line with various decisions and declarations focusing on the engagement and development of young people.
H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission asserts that “to enable the African youth to fight against corruption, governments must provide a viable environment through the implementation of policies which favour investments in the four pillars (of Africa’s Demographic Dividend)”.
The AU Demographic Dividend Roadmap’s fourth pillar highlights the importance of ensuring participatory, representative and inclusive political processes of young people that are increasingly educated, cosmopolitan, and tech-savvy.
Corruption is the bane of any progressive society. It stifles entrepreneurship, professionalism and erodes the values of hard work and honesty, and is one of the root causes of under-development in our society.
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Raising youth voices is essential for success in curbing corruption; youth represent a significant portion of the population and are generally more open to social change and political transformation, since they may have less interest in maintaining the status quo.
Against this backdrop, youth can play a pivotal role in the fight against corruption. Young people are more open to wide-scale socio-political transformation and have less vested interested in maintaining the status quo. Young people are an integral element for the success of cultural changes in attitudes and behavior towards corruption and in the shaping of the values of tomorrow, since they represent the present and future of their countries.
The Bounce Corruption Project, a nationwide campaign designed to give citizens and media a leadership role in the fight against corruption is one of the ways YIAGA AFRICA is raising youth voices against corruption in Africa. By promoting effective citizen’s oversight and mobilization for accountable governance, Bounce Corruption seeks to complement efforts by state and non-state actors in creating a zero-tolerance environment for corruption in Nigeria.
On Africa Youth Day, YIAGA Africa calls on African governments to honor their commitments and implement policies that strengthen the fight against corruption. YIAGA AFRICA calls on young Africans to rise against corruption by upholding the values of integrity and holding public officials to account.
Citizens, especially the youth population, which is Nigeria’s largest demographic to raise their voices against corruption in Nigeria.
#BetheFutureToday #BetheVibe #AfricaYouthDay #YouthAgainstCorruption
Moshood Isah
Media Officer | YIAGA AFRICA
