‘Not in My Country’ anti-graft campaign gets UN backing

Akin Fadeyi, creator of Not in My Country, a citizen-led anti-corruption campaign, has secured a deal with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to embark on the campaign across the country.

In a statement on Tuesday,  Fadeyi said the partnership would re-awaken the consciousness of Nigerians against acts of “citizen-corruption, poverty and environmental unfriendly acts”.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, had been accused of plagiarising the concept of ‘Not In My Country’ in his ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign, an allegation he denied.

“We are extremely proud to announce that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the Project on Support to anti-corruption in Nigeria which is fully funded by the European Union, have partnered with our nationwide campaign against retail and petty corruption – Not in My Country,” Fadeyi said in the statement.

“This commendable support is coming after a strict short listing processes and other global standard measures. We shall be working in concert with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who also bring on board various advocacy projects aimed at social re ordering for a better society.

“Our projects are driven by enterprising, cerebral and young patriotic Nigerians who are selflessly committed to impacting their environment to shun retail and petty corruption, I believe this support will further accelerate our collective quest to meet the global most valued agenda in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“It will re awaken us as a nation, specifically against ingenious acts of citizen-corruption, poverty and environmental unfriendly acts.

“We have such ambition to influence our social space which has suffered social corrosion and a depletion of societal core values with debilitating effects on our collective psyche.

“Our quick areas of interest is to strengthen capacity by partnering with some institutions including law enforcement agencies to combat petty corruption. We shall also work with select Nigerian schools and explore opportunities for instilling the right values and raising anti-corruption ambassadors from that vulnerable sector of the society.”

CSOs that have also entered into partnership with the UNDP and UNODC are Youth Progressive Association in Taraba, African Network for Environment & Economic Justice and Justice Development and Peace Commission.

Others are; Alliance for Credible Elections, African Centre for Rural Development & Environment, Self-Help Development Facilitators, Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, Integrity Organisation, and The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative.