Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has described media as essential tool to the fight against corruption in Nigeria and beyond.
This was stated on Tuesday by Maryam Ado Haruna, Programme Officer, Anti-corruption and Accountability Project, at a press conference to celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day, held at the CITAD’s office in Kano State.
According to her, anti-corruption crusade can not be genuine without the media which should primarily enjoy status of whistle-blowers.
She noted that corruption is a practice that flourishes in the dark, so media exposure is vital part of the war against graft by exposing the sharp practices perpetrated in government and private organisations.
Miss Haruna also described social media as another powerful tool in fighting corruption, advising journalists to explore social media as avenue to complement their efforts of fighting corruption.
The programme Officer however lamented how press freedom is violated despite several laws, declarations and policies protecting it.
“threats, harassment, intimidation, assault, unlawful arrest and detention of journalists is well as pervasive impunity for the perpetrators are making journalism not safe practice in various parts of the world, despite its importance in our society and development.
“we therefore, call on journalists not to take, threats, assaults, or even killings of their colleagues in other countries as excuse to let the standard of their profession slip. They should also avoid allowing themselves to be used for personal vendettas or partisan interests,†she said
In the same vein, the centre presented cash prizes of the sum of N10, 000 to three winners of its Anti-corruption Competitions on “Report a Project†and “Innovative Ideas†respectively.
Miss Haruna explained that the competitions were destined to contribute to fighting corruption from the grassroots, lamenting that there were low entries in to the contests.
