To mark the 2024 African Union Anti-Corruption Day, the Ilorin Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Harry Erin, led a road walk in Ilorin.

Representing the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Erin called on all Nigerians to support the Commission’s efforts to combat corruption.

The walk, starting from the EFCC Office in GRA, Ilorin at 7:00 am, followed a route through Ahmadu Bello Way, Post-Office, Offa Road, Flower Garden, and Tanke Junction, concluding back at the EFCC Office by 9:15 am. Participants carried banners with messages such as “Corruption is Evil, Shun It” and “See Something, Say Something,” while chanting anti-corruption slogans and dancing to music played by a DJ.

A variety of stakeholders joined the event, including the Police, Nigeria Customs Service, NSCDC, Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA, FRSC, NYSC, Civil Society Organisations, traditional rulers, and associations like RTEAN, NURTW, and Tricycle Owners Associations of Nigeria, along with heads of agencies and media representatives.

In his address, “Deepening Anti-Corruption Fight Through Effective Whistle Blowing,” Olukoyede emphasized the crucial role of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption. He noted that corruption, alongside terrorism, is a major hindrance to development globally and locally.

“No serious development can be achieved without the contributions of whistleblowers in the war against corruption,” Olukoyede stated. He urged whistleblowers to use the EFCC’s Eagle Eye app and other channels to report corrupt activities, assuring them of protection and rewards for truthful reports while warning against false claims.

The Olusin of Isanlu Isin, Oba Solomon Olugbenga Oloyede, representing the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, advocated for extending the anti-corruption efforts to grassroots levels. He suggested organizing similar walks in rural areas to educate residents, especially the youth, about the dangers of corruption.

“This walk should be taken to communities, villages, and schools to effectively combat corruption from its roots,” Oba Oloyede remarked. He highlighted the prevalence of examination malpractice in schools as an example of corruption that needs to be addressed.

The Whistle-Blowing Policy in Nigeria, launched on December 21, 2016, by the Federal Government, encourages citizens to report fraud, bribery, financial misconduct, and other corrupt activities. The theme for the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day is “Effective Whistleblowing for Corruption-Free Nigeria.”