Following the end of a two-year involvement in efforts to reduce the scourge of corruption at all levels in Nigeria, the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG) presented its report at a ceremony in Abuja attended by stakeholders in the anti-corruption community.
PRIMORG is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to community development and the promotion of good governance through engagement with citizens, policy makers community-based organisations and government institutions.
The 42-page report entitled Tackling Corruption On Air and Online is the outcome of activities implemented since April 2019 under a project of Strengthening Anti-Corruption and Accountability by Amplifying Corruption Related Reports on the Radio and Through Social Media funded by MacArthur Foundation. The flagship of the project is Public Conscience On Radio, an anti-corruption programme which first aired live on Nigeria Info 95.1 FM Abuja, and later on 99.9 Kiss FM Abuja and syndicated on five FM stations across the country.
In his welcome remark, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of the Board of RIMORG, urged citizens’ active participation in the fight against corruption, saying government had not been forthright in putting the anti-corruption fight in the hands of the people. He said it was high time Nigerians owned the fight, instead of leaving it for government to dictate the pace. Describing radio as the most formidable tool for communication in Nigeria, Odinkalu said PRIMORG’s deployment of radio in this project is especially relevant.
Dr. Kole Shettima, Director, Africa Office of McArthur Foundation, in his keynote address said project dissemination is important to the Foundation. He said the Foundation had noted the impact of PRIMORG’s work in the lives of citizens. “They’ve been able to deliver, and we are excited about it,” he stated. The Foundation, he said, would continue to support government and civil society organisations in the belief that the two can work together for a better country. Dr. Shettima thanked the team at PRIMORG for the good work they are doing. He urged them to do more, adding that the Foundation is happy to be part of the journey because “media is very important as it enables people to raise their voices and ask questions.”
On his part, Okhiria Augustine Agbonsuremi, Executive Director of PRIMORG, thanked guests for their presence at the event. He said the experience of the last two years had been most beneficial to him and the entire team at PRIMORG. He noted that the organisation’s numerous partners, among them African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) had made PRIMORG’s success possible.
Speaking of partnership, Dr. Amina Salihu, also of MacArthur Foundation, said they were “very proud” of the work PRIMORG was doing, especially with fellow Foundation grantees.
The report was unveiled by Abiodun Adeniyi, a professor and head of department of mass communication at Baze University, Abuja. He congratulated PRIMORG, saying the organization had been exemplary in the last two years of active mobilization and citizens’ engagement.
