APRIL NEWSLETTER – Step Up Nigeria

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!

Last month was an incredibly productive month, marked by numerous thrilling events and remarkable progress towards our mission of creating a transparent and equitable society. We actively worked towards our goal of empowering citizens to fight corruption and demand quality services and public goods. Take a moment to immerse yourself and relish the most exciting highlights from the month.

RAISING NIGERIANS WITH INTEGRITY THROUGH STEP UP YOUTH INTEGRITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

We are excited to announce that last month, Step Up Nigeria with support from LEAP Africa and Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) launched its “Youth Integrity Fellowship Programme” aimed at building the capacity of young leaders to foster integrity, accountability, and transparency as well as to demand improved service delivery within their communities and beyond. In the coming weeks, we will be receiving applications from Nigerians and we hope you are chosen to be a fellow with us.

Stay tuned for more exciting impacts and stories of change!

STRENGTHENING INTEGRITY AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION

We organised a briefing session in Abuja and Lagos to strengthen the level of integrity in 30 schools. Our program is designed to help schools establish a culture of integrity by developing policies and codes of ethics. This way, schools can promote academic and admissions integrity in an environment where doing the right thing is encouraged and rewarded. During the School Integrity Certification Programme briefing, we received feedback from school owners and heads about the daily challenges they face in maintaining their standards and integrity while trying to please some parents. Participants emphasised that having integrity in schools is not enough; school heads and owners must speak with one voice whenever parents pressure them to compromise their standards.

TAKING A STAND AGAINST CORRUPTION AS YOUNG OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHANGEMAKERS

Our message to children about the fight against corruption is making a significant impact, and we are pleased to see it spread far and wide. We visited the Gwagwa community in FCT-Abuja, where we empowered 42 children with the knowledge and tools needed to speak against corrupt practices. We screened the “Halima’s Vote” animation film which transformed their thinking and attitude towards corruption thereby equipping the children with essential knowledge, helpful tools and confidence needed to speak up when they witness corrupt practices. They actively participated and showed a keen interest in the topic. At the end of the engagement, the children learnt about the importance of transparency, accountability, and fairness in all aspects of life. They expressed their views, concerns and shared how they feel neglected in society. We listened and assured them that their opinions matter and that they can make a difference by acting against corruption.

ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH ARTS

We are deeply committed to improving the quality of education for children by empowering them to realise and reach their full potential. Last month, we visited the LightOut Movement to explore potential areas of partnership. Our mutual objective is to collaborate and inspire children to become change-makers in their communities. Together, our aim is to establish a platform enabling children to creatively initiate social impact. This partnership presents an opportunity to identify and tackle the most critical issues affecting children in our communities. Our aspiration is to nurture and cultivate a generation of changemakers who will champion positive social transformation, and make the world a better place.

PARTNERING TO EQUIP TEACHERS WITH ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE ON ANTI-CORRUPTION

In Nelson Mandela’s words, ”education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” and this is why in a recent meeting with the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), we discussed strategies to equip teachers with essential knowledge on how to teach anti-corruption education. During the meeting, our Director of Programme, emphasised the importance of training Civic Education Teachers in AFED schools. These teachers will play a crucial role in disseminating the knowledge received from our training to their students and fellow teachers. Mr. James Lartey, AFED Lagos State Chairman, commended Step Up Nigeria for the significant progress made in empowering future champions to stand against corruption.

IMPROVING TEACHERS SKILLS TO RAISE CHANGEMAKERS IN CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITIES

We conducted a comprehensive training session with our April Cohort for 154 teachers in Nigeria, focusing on institutionalising anti-corruption education in schools. The training equipped teachers with a well-curated toolkit to integrate anti-corruption education into their lesson plans and emphasised the importance of upholding integrity as nation-builders. Through engaging activities, teachers learned creative approaches to help students grasp the detrimental effects of corruption and take a stand against it. The training also highlighted the necessity of implementing social sanctions in schools to deter corrupt practices. Following the training, the participating teachers expressed their excitement and shared valuable insights, noting that the knowledge gained will empower them to foster positive change in their classrooms and communities. They firmly believe that this training will play a significant role in shaping a new Nigeria that is free from corruption.

Stay tuned for more exciting news!

EXAMINING NIGERIA’S CIVIC TECH LANDSCAPE: MAXIMISING TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Do you know how civic technology is driving social change in Nigeria? Well, this episode of our podcast, sheds more light on the transformative power of digital innovation and how it is driving positive societal change. Our conversation revolves around the dynamic intersection of technology, governance, and citizen engagement, as outlined in Civic Hive’s comprehensive 2024 report. In this podcast, we explored how civic technology has emerged as a game-changer, catalysing bridging the gap between the government and citizens, the impact of digital innovation on governance, and how it is enabling citizens to have a more active role in decision-making processes, leading to more inclusive and participatory governance. You can catch up on the latest episode by clicking HERE.

EQUIPPING PARENTS WITH TOOLS ON TEACHING ANTI-CORRUPTION VALUES AT HOME

We rolled out invitations to parents to join our virtual session on the importance of teaching anti-corruption values at home. We recognise the critical role of parents in shaping the future of our society, therefore, the Parents Anti-Corruption Champion Initiative is designed to equip parents with the necessary skills to raise children who value integrity, transparency and honesty. Through our comprehensive guide and practical tools, we aim to empower parents to have a positive impact on their child’s development from the earliest stages. So if you are yet to register, we invite you to join us to make a real difference in your child’s life and contribute to a better future for your child, by clicking the link HERE

EMPOWER A CHILD BY JOINING OUR #BUYACHILDABOOK CAMPAIGN

The transformative power of books is well captured in what Stephen King said about books being a uniquely portable magic. The creativity, knowledge and cultural diversity that books bring into our lives, helps us to see a realm where dreams come through. This is part of the reasons why we are calling on you to join us in empowering 1000 children with any of our books from our collection of anti-corruption storybooks. You can put a smile on the faces of children by joining our #BuyaChildaBookCampaign and get a child a copy of ‘Halima’s Vote, Tosin’s Story, Ansa’s Speech or Emeka’s Money.

Let’s continue to inspire the next generation to stand against corruption through the magic of storytelling!