To foster a transparent and equitable society by actively engaging and empowering citizens to fight corruption and demand quality services and public goods.
Hello Stepper!
Welcome to 2025 🥳🥂We hope that January has been a vibrant start to your year, just as it has been for us. As we move into 2025, we are excited about the plans we have and look forward to more opportunities to collaborate together. As you set your goals for the New Year, let’s focus our hopes, aspirations, and resolutions into concrete actions that will contribute to a better future for Nigeria. Below are some of our key highlights from January. We hope these serve to inspire and motivate us for the year ahead!
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM STEP UP NIGERIA IN 2025
In the 94th episode of our podcast, Our Director of Programs, Feranmi Iyanda, Deputy Programs Director Andrew Idoko, and Head of Programs Delivery Halimat Olufade shared an inspiring roadmap of activities we will pursue in 2025. One of the highlights includes the development of an app that we will launch later in the year. They also discussed the innovative solutions we implemented to overcome challenges and key lessons learned in 2024. With over 2,000 plays this month alone, you don’t want to miss this episode!
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION 2025
SCHOLARSHIP OR MONEY? NIGERIANS SHARE THEIR VIEWS IN THE JANUARY EDITION OF OUR VOICES ON THE STREET SHOW
Recent studies highlight a growing disinterest among Nigerian youth in pursuing education, particularly in certain fields. Identified challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, including inadequate funding and infrastructure, and widespread corruption have led to frustration among many students and driving the ‘japa’ exodus of many young Nigerians. These issues collectively contribute to a shift in educational interests and pursuits among Nigerian youth. In our first edition of Voices on the Street for the Year, we asked Nigerians: Would you choose a scholarship or a sum of money? Their responses shed light on the diverse motivations and values tied to education and financial support. Take a listen to what Nigerians are saying here.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: TEACHERS TRAINING COHORT 12
Our 12th teacher’s training cohort starts next month. You can join us in our transformative journey to empower educators to build a generation characterized by integrity. This training offers you the opportunity to explore engaging ways to integrate anti-corruption education into your classroom, empowering the next generation with the essential knowledge and values to create a brighter future. Don’t miss this chance to make a lasting impact. Register today: https://bit.ly/stepupteacherstraining
STEP-UP FELLOWS BEGIN IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS AFTER SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY
The Step Up Nigeria Fellowship Program in Nasarawa State supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund and Leap Africa has sparked a wave of transformation! Through capacity-building workshops and civic engagement training, 30 dynamic youths from 5 underserved communities were empowered to demand better services in their communities. Their advocacy has resulted in collaborative efforts to improve access to health care, clean water, security, education and transportation. We’ll be sharing their impactful stories next month highlighting the power of youth-led advocacy and the impact of partnerships in driving sustainable development.
ADVANCING INTEGRITY CULTURE IN SCHOOLS
This month, we monitored schools across the nation to assess the progress they have made to strengthen integrity standards in their schools. Our Certification Programme, emphasizes the importance of setting clear ethical standards to foster a culture of integrity within schools.
We are encouraged to see schools actively combating examination malpractice and addressing conflicts of interest to promote fairness and transparency. As a result, integrity-certified schools have demonstrated notable improvements in their integrity and ethical standards.
ENGAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS & STAKEHOLDERS
We commenced the month by reaching out to our key partners and stakeholders. We are enthusiastic about our engagement with the Department of Ethics and the Embassy in Malta, as we seek to learn from their exemplary institutionalization of ethics education across all levels of learning. We anticipate collaborating to cultivate future leaders with integrity in Africa and beyond.
Additionally, we held a strategic meeting with the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) to discuss the use of our integrity storybooks for children in Nasarawa State. Since the approval of these books—Emeka’s Money, Halima’s Vote, Ansa’s Speech, and Tosin’s Story—by the Ministry of Education, we are working to ensure that our learning materials are accessible to instil values and promote ethical education, towards nurturing integrity champions.
EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S LEADERS WITH INTEGRITY: A BOOK FOR A CHILD
There’s no better way to start your year than by joining us to ignite change by gifting our anti-corruption storybooks to children around you. Our #Buyachildabookcampaign is still running and we invite you to join us in equipping children with the necessary tools needed in the fight against corruption. Through this campaign, we hope to reach more children and equip them with anti-corruption messages and the need to stand for integrity. You can place your order here https://bit.ly/BuyAnticorruptionStorybooks
FOLLOW US!
Mailing Address: The Ventures Park, No.5 Kwaji Close, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, F.C.T
Contact: info@stepupnigeria.org
Tel: +2349019500597
Warm Regards,
The Step Up Nigeria Team.