Bounce Corruption: Amplifying Citizens Voices Against Corruption through Radio Ambassadors
Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement | 10 June, 2019
It is technically realistic to achieve a
corrupt-free society; socio-politically, it is a different case. The goal to
eradicate corruption, though daunting, is one that civil society organizations,
citizens, media, government authorities and all stakeholders in the society
must take on to shun the destabilizing impacts of corruption in Nigeria.
As part
of effort to amplify citizens voices against corruption, YIAGA AFRICA through
its Bounce Corruption Project commissioned radio presenters across Nigeria
to amplify citizens voices through creative programs on corruption in Nigeria.
In the last 12 months, these programs have successfully engaged
grassroots citizens and to be on the lookout in their own communities
while keeping leaders accountable.
With support
from the MacArthur foundation, the Bounce Corruption project takes a
bottom-to-top approach in sensitizing and mobilizing citizens to work against
corruption in
all its forms, including political corruption, extortion and bribery. As a matter of fact, the Bounce Corruption radio
ambassadors, have played a key role in bringing the anti-corruption fight to
the grassroots in various states across Nigeria..
In
Bauchi state for instance, GlobeFM’s Hannatu Poloma organizes a weekly radio
program to sensitize youths on issues regarding corruption in their
communities. Just before the 2019 elections, she had an interview with the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) North-east zonal public
relations officer on vote buying and selling, and also held discussions with
journalists on the matter in an attempt to sensitize all citizens eligible to
vote. Subsequently, she brought citizens on the radio show to discuss, and held
a vox pop to amplify anti-corruption on the streets of Bauchi State.
Likewise,
Onyimiebi Siasia of Radio Bayelsa holds a 30 minutes program, “Let’s Kick
Corruption”, every Tuesday, where people call in to offer their thoughts on
corruption issues in their communities. Through the phone-in participation,
Siasia has been able to make citizens see that the fight against corruption is
a collective responsibility.
According
to Peter Cheman Koti of Gotel FM in Adamawa state, his, ‘ Bounce Corruption
Show’, reached close to one million listeners in one month. Peter was able to
engage listeners on the best ways to expose and fight corruption, while doing a
follow-up with them via social media and phone-in engagement sessions on the
radio program.
Elsewhere
in Nigeria’s capital city, Kimberly Nwachuku holds a program every on Nigeria
Info, Abuja to engage citizens on the anti-corruption fight as well. The Bounce
Corruption project beckons on all Nigerians to be responsive in changing
ill-social patterns in their individual communities, and these ambassadors are
using radio as an important tool to inform and educate citizens.
As
YIAGA AFRICA continues it is mission to raise over 20 million voices against
corruption, the Bounce Corruption project is set to reach out to more
radio hosts to create programs that will amplify the fight against corruption
today.
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