The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put women at the centre of the fight against corruption.
The Executive Director of WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi made the appeal on Thursday in Kaduna during an interface meeting between grassroots women and anti-corruption and service providing agencies.
Akiyode-Afolabi said WARDC believes that corruption can be successfully reduced if women and the right mechanisms are put at the centre of the anti-graft war.
“Corruption has played a great role in hindering women’s political participation, access to justice, peace and security, economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive rights, right to education and right to be free from all forms of violence.
“Corruption impact is more magnified amongst the vulnerable group in the society of which women belong.
“Therefore it is right to say that women suffer more than men do when corruption hinders development.
“Hence, we believe that through this meeting with the Nigerian service providers, we will have a great opportunity to increase the influence of citizens’ participation in decision making.
“And will be able to negotiate in the development and implementation of strategies in areas of development which has been hindered by corrupt practices.
“We are hoping that thís meeting will create a synergy between service providers and the Nigerian in the fight against corruption and we will all be upright for Nigeria and stand against corruption,” Akiyode-Afolabi said.
The executive director, who was represented by Mrs Mary George, pointed out that one of the aims of WARDC was to ensure a reduction in corruption by encouraging the public to increasingly disapprove of corrupt activities.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants included professional groups, trade associations and cooperative societies.
They were exposed to the workings of anti-corruption and service providing agencies and given contacts through which they can report corrupt practices.
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