STEP UP NIGERIA JULY NEWSLETTER

Building bridges to combat corruption through a community of integrity champions, fostering enhanced service delivery in Nigeria…

Hello Stepper

In July, we proudly celebrated our seventh anniversary, a perfect milestone that embodies our dedication to fostering a generation of changemakers rooted in integrity and honesty. In this edition of our monthly newsletter, we bring you a highlight from our seventh anniversary. We also spotlight progress made towards building accountability and good governance; from launching Student Anti-Corruption Clubs with ICPC, to strengthening our digital resilience through the CSR-Hub, to pushing for stronger audit reforms through our engagement with the Public Accounts Committee. Let’s begin 🎉

CELEBRATING SEVEN YEARS OF IMPACT

For seven years, we have worked tirelessly to foster integrity, accountability, and civic engagement across communities, and empowered young Nigerians to build a brighter future. As we reflect on our journey, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, beneficiaries, funders, and to you our steppers for your support over the years. To celebrate this milestone, we have curated a special video just for you, showcasing our impact over the years. Watch HERE.

STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT

As an active member of the Civil Society Coalition on Audit in Nigeria (CSCAN), Step Up Nigeria recently joined a high-level delegation with Hon. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at the House of Representatives. During the meeting, we commended the house committee for championing the recently concluded National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance. We also discussed next steps towards strengthening systems in public accounting. We will keep you updated on our progress in the coming months.

STEP UP NIGERIA PARTNERS WITH ICPC TO LAUNCH STUDENT INTEGRITY CLUBS

As part of our mission to nurture the next generation of anti-corruption leaders, Step Up Nigeria was honoured to join the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for the inauguration of Students Anti-Corruption Clubs (SACs) in select schools across Abuja. At the launch, we reaffirmed our commitment to raising young Nigerians who not only understand the dangers of corruption but are also empowered to speak up, stand firm, and lead with integrity. These clubs mark an important step in building a culture of accountability from the classroom up. Through continued collaboration with partners like the ICPC, we will keep equipping young people with the values, knowledge, and tools they need to become lifelong integrity champions.

AFRICAN ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY: PROMOTING HUMAN DIGNITY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Every year on African Anti-Corruption Day, we recognize the progress made by young Africans in the fight against corruption. This year, we organized a Space on X to discuss how to promote human dignity in the fight against corruption. The conversation featuring Ibrahim Faruk from (Yiaga Africa) and Muhktar Halilu Modibbo from (CODE) spotlighted the negative impact of corruption on the humanity of citizens, and particularly marginalized groups. They discuss what it truly means to promote dignity in the fight against corruption. If you missed the Space you can listen to the recording HERE

A PODCAST WITH STEP UP NIGERIA’S FELLOWS ON BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ANTI-CORRUPTION CHAMPIONS

Our July podcast spotlighted Step Up Nigeria’s 2024/2025 Fellows. These young, driven leaders are stepping up to build a future where integrity wins and corruption loses. The conversation centered on stories of transformation, the power of collaboration, and real-life examples of how grassroot advocacy is sparking change across their communities. They’re not waiting for change. They’re leading it. Listen with this link: https://bit.ly/4lXui3V.

CALLING ALL CHANGEMAKERS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE STEP UP NIGERIA INTEGRITY NETWORK

Are you passionate about building a better Nigeria? Do you believe in the power of integrity to drive real change? Then this is for you! For the past 3 years, the Step Up Nigeria Membership Programme has brought together a vibrant community of changemakers committed to fighting corruption and improving service delivery across Nigeria. Now, we’re opening our doors to more incredible individuals like you! This network is your chance to:
✅ Connect with like-minded leaders
✅ Co-create solutions that bridge the gap between citizens and government
✅ Be part of a movement championing integrity and accountability

We’re kicking things off with a virtual meet & greet next month — and we’d love for you to be there! Sign up here to join the network and receive your exclusive invite: [https://bit.ly/SUNMEMBERSHIPFORM] Let’s build a better Nigeria, together. 💪🇳🇬

INTEGRITY HOTLINE SPOTLIGHT: STORIES OF COURAGE AND ACTION

Since launching our Integrity Hotline, we’ve been truly inspired by the brave calls and messages from children taking a stand against corruption. Their courage and commitment remind us that young people are not just future leaders, they’re leading change right now. Remember to call us on our hotline to share the amazing stories of actions you are taking to shun corruption and uphold integrity.

BOOSTING DIGITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE CIVIC SPACE

Our Communications Associate, Joshua Odidi, engaged with WACSIs CSR-Hub Cohort 3 on digital security and cyber protection. The conversation exposed a new understanding of digital threats and practical tools to enhance our internal systems. As more of our work moves online as civil society, protecting our data, communication, and infrastructure has become more important than ever. You can contact us below to learn more.

JOIN US TO EMPOWER A CHILD THROUGH OUR #BUYACHILDABOOK CAMPAIGN

At Step Up Nigeria, we are instilling integrity in young people as we believe that this is essential for fostering meaningful change in our society. Through our Catch Them Young initiative, we have empowered 60,000 children with the values and skills they need to resist corruption and act with integrity. You can support our #BuyAChildABook campaign by purchasing any of our anti-corruption storybooks and sharing them with children in your community. You can place your order here for just N2,500 https://bit.ly/BuyAnticorruptionStorybooks