African Centre for media and information literacy (AFRICMIL) with the support of the John D and Catherine MacArthur Foundation on Monday commenced a step-down training for community-based organisations at the mini town hall held at Ojoku in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In his Welcome Address, the Coordinator of the African Center for Media and Information Literacy, Mr Chido Onumah ably represented by the program manager Kolawole Ogunbiyi declared that the theme of the day is community-based organisations as change agents in promoting whistleblowing.
He stated that combating corruption through early detection and exposure of mismanagement, bribery, fraud, theft of public funds and other illicit acts is an effective strategy in the fight against corruption whereas whistleblowing has proven to be the most direct method of exposing corrupt acts.
According to the Coordinator AFRICMIL, the step-down training will ensure the community-based organization has an ensuring presence in the communities while forming a formidable collaborator in disavowing the negative culture of silence and adopting the more rewarding attitude of speaking out in the face of anything that could potentially harm or endanger their environments.
He added that corruption thrives in multiple forms in the communities, but most visibly in the misappropriation of funds and abandonment of projects that could bring development and meaningful turnaround to the lives of the people.
Also speaking at the training, the State Coordinator for national human rights Commission Kwara Chapter, Barrister Jumoke Olaoye noted with high importance that the effect of silence on the individual in the society cannot be underemphasized, the community are encouraged to whistleblow any form of corruption especially as it affects human rights
Barrister Olaoye said it is worthy to note that corruption erodes human rights which typically leads to non-accountability while the right to life can be taken away if silence is maintained, She maintained that discrimination due to race culture should be exempted in society, she mentioned that the essence of the program is to sensitize the community to report any wrongdoing to the appropriate quarters without any fear of stigmatization.
Further speaking, the Cheif Executive Officer for Global World for Women and Children, Mrs Christie Abayomi Oluwole who are partnering with AFRICMIL disclosed vividly that when there are constituents projects anywhere, transparency and objectivity should be imbibed to ensure ideal living like access to potable water, improved school facilities.
Mrs Oluwole attested that the essence of the program is also to assess or identify gaps that can affect the well-being of the people in the community to ensure total well-being.
Responding from the community, the Chairman Ojoku descendants progressive forum, Mr Yusuf Olagunju made a plea to the government to enhance their roads from Ojoku to Afon, ensure better health equipment and facilities and provide electricity supply.
