Connected Development (CODE), a non-profit making organisation, says it is poised to promoting civic rights and education among secondary school students in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the group, Mr Hamzat Lawal, stated this on Thursday during a quiz competition organised for three selected secondary schools in Owerri, Imo.
Lawal, represented by the Communications Officer of CODE, Mr Odinaka Onuigbo, said the group’s desire was to empower students with knowledge on how to demand accountability and due process from governments and organizations.
“To do that, we set up Civic Clubs in some secondary schools and came up with a manual to teach them basic civic education so that as they grow, they will be able to engage and hold governments and organisations in the extractive industries accountable.
“Our main mandate is to empower maginalised communities through various projects like Power of Voices Partnership-Fair for All Projects (PVP), which focuses on capacity building and creation of awareness on the extractive sector,” he noted.
He said that the extractive sectors are organisations engaged in mining mineral resources in various communities in the country.
According to Lawal, “my organisation aims to help the students understand that people who are mining mineral resources in communities, are either employing people from the area or giving back to the communities.
He said: “it is our hope that students will be able to learn more about their rights, responsibilities and help to raise awareness in communities with mining and extraction of mineral resources.
“The project is aimed at empowering marginalised communities by improving transparency, accountability, and helping citizens understand their civic rights.”
Earlier, the Imo Support Officer for the group, Dr Chigoziri Osuji, explained that the programme, sponsored by Oxfam, began operations in 2021.
“Since we established the integrity clubs, this is the first time we are having inter-school competition in the five states involved in the project, namely: Cross River, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory,” she said.
The National Chairman of Catholic Directors of Education, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Nwachukwu, commended the organisers for nurturing students on maintaining integrity and civility.
According to Nwachukwu, civic education, being a core subject in secondary schools helps to build the society and country.
He advised Nigerians to maintain good culture and civility even in the midst of hardship.
In an interview, a representative of Imo Government Girls Secondary School, Owerri, winner of the quiz competition, Miss Jessica Peters, commended the organisers for educating students on their civic rights.
“Civic teaches us as citizens our rights, duties and what government is expected to do for us as citizens.
“It teaches us how to participate in the politics of our economy, and enlighten us on the politics of our country and countries around us,” Peters stated.
NAN reports that Owerri Girls Secondary School, Owerri, came second while Christian Child’s Care Secondary School, Owerri, came third in the quiz competition.
The event also witnessed a debate between two of the schools on the topic “Integrity can end corruption in Nigeria”, as well as drama presentations and spoken words which highlighted civic engagement and
accountability.
