The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has partnered with Master Agent Show, a non-governmental organization, to directly engage over 50,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) students in the fight against corruption.
This large-scale mobilization was announced by the ICPC chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, at the inauguration of the Basic Education Anti-corruption Debate (BEAD) initiative. Dr. Aliyu was represented at the Abuja event on Thursday by Mr Okor Odey, Divisional Head of the Education and Public Enlightenment and Education Department.
The BEAD initiative is a thematic and education-driven program designed to instill core values. Its primary goal is to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability among young Nigerians through the use of competitive debates. The chairman stated that the collaboration aims to significantly enhance the anti-corruption effort starting at the basic education level nationwide.
He said that the organization came up with the initiative of reaching 5000 schools with 50,000 students to engage in the anti-corruption fight through debates.
”Master Agent Show presented an idea to the ICPC that was not entirely new, but unique.
”The BEAD project aligns with the Commission’s mission of addressing social challenges through education, awareness, and reorientation.
”Recognizing ICPC’s existing anti-corruption debates for international institutions, they proposed adapting these to be functional at the basic education level, specifically for JS1 to JS3 students.
”The uniqueness of their approach lies in its ability to be implemented across all 36 states of Nigeria simultaneously without physical presence until the final stage, leveraging the cooperation of schools,” he said.
According to him, the partnership aims to develop these ideas further, with the intention to build anti-corruption champions, expand the reach, and escalate the fight against corruption to the next level.
”The program goes beyond awards and recognition, as it is designed to reshape perceptions of integrity among young Nigerians through documentaries, media partnerships and school debates.
“The goal is to integrate discussions on ethics into their everyday life,” he said.
Mr Osigbeme Enike, the Managing Director, Master Agent Show, said that the initiative aimed at enhancing civic engagement and developing critical thinking and public speaking skills against corruption through debates.
According to him, BEAD is more than just a debate series. It is a transformative movement that harnesses the power of education to dismantle the deep rooted barriers of corruption.
“We intend to achieve this by strategically engaging the Basic Education community, our nation’s most vital sector In shaping future generations as the frontline force in this battle.
“Through BEAD, over 5,000 junior secondary schools across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will mobilise more than 50,000 students to deliberate on critical themes, such as “Citizens’ Character or Government Cabinet: Who Ends Corruption?”
“Participating schools will submit videos of their young minds debating, which will be broadcast daily on platforms like the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s FM stations, BE.TV‘s YouTube and Facebook channels, and other partners.”
Enike said that the programme, scheduled to run from September 2025 to July 2026, would be executed in four phases: School; Engagement, Regional Selection, Nationwide Broadcast, and Awards.
He said that the plan was also to reach estimated 10 million radio listeners and over one million digital viewers per episode.
Also speaking, Mr Domini Ogakwu, Chief Marketing Executive BEAD, said that the initiative was to take advantage of digital age to fight corruption through digital concept.
“From the comfort of your home you can engage in moral crusade against corruption liberating young minds from being corrupt.
“We appeal to organisations and business owners to sponsor the initiative through media advocacy, and buying of space and time in the media.
”It is an investment that will give mileage on youth development and bring back the value that we have lost in our schools,” he said
