To Curb Corruption, MacArthur-backed Centre Graduates 30 Change-makers
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), backed by the MacArthur Foundation, has graduated its first cohort of 30 anti-corruption change-makers, through its Behavioural Insights Network Transparency & Accountability (BiNTA) fellowship.
PIC boasts of being the first national institutionalisedbehavioural initiative in Africa supporting government and stakeholders to make behaviourally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact driven interventions in critical areas.
It is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think tank in Africa redefining evidence-based policy advocacy.
The anti-graft fellows drawn from various sectors are expected to double their commitment to driving anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria, a statement in Abuja by the Project Coordinator, BiNTA Fellowship, Femi Obidare, said.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Executive Director of PIC, Dr. OsasuyiDirisu, emphasised that the BiNTA fellowship was designed to strengthen the capacity of anti-corruption change-makers to leverage behavioural insights to disrupt the socially normative status of corruption in Nigeria.
“We are moving you from being fellows into collaborators. Together, we will be driving a large ecosystem of people who can do valuable work to fight corruption in Nigeria,” Dirisusaid.
She affirmed that the centrewill continue to build capacity for Nigerians committed to combating corruption, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability beyond this first cohort.
Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Dr. Abdullahi Bello, in his remarks, described the fellowship as a milestone in the fight against corruption and promotion of ethical practices across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
“It is my firm belief that the knowledge, insight and solutions by the BiNTA fellows will make a significant impact on the way we approach governance and anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria,” he stated.
“I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to the MacArthur foundation for their support for this important initiative. Your continued investment in Nigeria’s future is invaluable and we are all deeply appreciative of your partnership and quest for a more transparent and accountable society,” Bello added.
Also speaking, one of the BiNTA fellows, Winner Mugana, described the fellowship as an incredible journey that provided the support she needed to drive change in the energy sector within Kabusa Community, Abuja.
“Beyond the impact on the community, I have personally gained so much from this fellowship that I can apply in my work in the energy sector,” she stressed.
The six-month fellowship included rigorous training and mentorship, a co-creation phase for developing anti-corruption initiatives using behavioural insights, and an implementation phase where fellows executed their projects with PIC’s support.
At the event, PIC also launched the Behavioural Insights Network (BIN), a community of practice for behavioural insights practitioners, and the enhanced Learning Management System (LMS) to support the ecosystem.
Project Coordinator, Obidare on his part, described them as essential platforms for sustaining and expanding anti-corruption efforts in the country.
Senior Programme Officer at the MacArthur Foundation, Dr. AminaSalihu, lauded the fellows’ project presentations, describing them as “strategically relevant”.
Salihu highlighted the importance of applying behavioural insights in tackling other societal issues, and urged fellows to continue applying their learning.
She also underscored the importance of integrating gender and social inclusion strategies into projects and called for strategic government engagement at all levels.
