*MACI, ICPC Agree on Prevention-focused Advocacy, Journalists Training and Data Sharing Framework
A non-governmental organization (NGO), Media Anti-Corruption Initiative (MACI) has deepened its partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of renewed efforts to promote transparency, accountability and ethical reporting in Nigeria.
The milestone was recorded when a seven-man MACI delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr. Chukwurah Alexander, at ICPC office in Lagos recently.
While receiving the delegation, Alexander described the media as pivotal to the ICPC’s public enlightenment and prevention mandate as enshrined in Section 6, ICPC Act, 2000.
He pats MACI on the back for its commitment to discouraging public participation in corrupt practices and expressed delight at the growing media synergy.
Led by its Team Lead, Mr. Funso Olojo, the interactive session focused on building a structured collaboration model between the media and the anti-graft agency to make the fight against corruption more preventive than reactive.
MACI in a statement said the key outcomes of the engagement include recognition of the strategic role of the media in anti-corruption advocacy and public reorientation; alignment on prevention-focused strategies as enshrined in the ICPC mandate; adoption of global best practices in anti-corruption communication; and the distinction between information and actionable intelligence for investigative reporting.
Other outcome of the engagement of the government agency and MACI include agreement on continuous training and capacity building for journalists on anti-corruption reporting; framework for data-sharing between ICPC and MACI to drive fact-based reporting; as well as plan for joint mobile and community-targeted sensitization campaigns.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, Olojo reaffirmed MACI’s resolve to support ICPC. If we must achieve the Nigeria of our dream, the people must be actively involved.
He described the ICPC as the coordinating police of the nation’s anti-corruption architecture and pledged MACI’s commitment to promoting responsible journalism that promotes integrity.
Apart from Olojo, Mr. Lucky Onyeji, Pastor Tunde Ojudun, Rev. John Iwori, Elder Abba Collins, Mrs. Esther Komolafe and Mrs. Ruth Sunday were part of MACI members who paid the courtesy visit on ICPC.
Maritime Bits checks that MACI is an NGO committed to promoting ethical journalism, accountability and citizen participation in the fight against corruption.
