Why we need to teach our children about the damage caused by corruption

Corrupt people often do not realise they are corrupt. Most of them do not recognise that their actions are causing harm to people. To make matters worse, these corrupt persons are praised and celebrated for their corrupt actions by their friends, family and those who directly benefit. The sad truth is… and it pains me to say it, but many corrupt people are actually quite likeable. Often charismatic and outgoing. All of these factors makes it difficult to teach children about the harm corruption is having.

This is the challenge I’m trying to tackle through my forthcoming children’s book ‘Emeka’s Money’. Emeka was a good man, and tried to do good things for the people he liked. However, he did not realise that his ‘nice actions’ to his friends were causing damage to the growth of his people and community. In one part,  Emeka helps a friend secure a road contract from the State Governor. The kick-backs from the corrupt deal are so severe that the roads are not built well, and a woman gets injured in a road accident as a result. The book tries to make direct links between different aspect of corruption and the real harm they cause on people.

We need to get better at explaining the reasons why we should not engage in corrupt activities and make this real and relatable for people. Just saying that people should not be corrupt is not enough. Even corrupt people say that people should not be corrupt. It is more impactful to link corruption to the poor circumstances of the people around us. To prevent future generations from adopting what has become a common practice in Nigeria we need to start shaping the minds of our children. We all need to understand the importance of integrity in public office and delivering services for all. This goes far beyond being likeable and delivering only for our friends and family.

To find out more about 'Emeka's Money' you can visit my book launch website https://emekasmoney.wordpress.com

Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria: the need for action by all Nigerians

Emmanuel Okoro (not his real name) is a Nigerian Public Servant who has just bought a mansion in highbrow suburb of Maitama in Abuja. His family and friends congratulate him, ‘He has arrived’, they say, referencing the great luck that has fallen upon him - “We thank God oh!”

Most of those patting Emmanuel on the back fail to ask a fundamental question: How could he afford it? Can he afford this property on his current income? Some go further to explain his source of wealth by boldly saying ‘it’s not just his salary, he is into ‘contracts’’, as if that made the money legitimate. The acceptance of unexplained wealth is one of the reasons that corruption thrives in Nigeria. When people engage in corrupt activities, they are celebrated and not ‘booed’ or punished.

In many cases ‘unexplained wealth’ is created through the corruption which is hobbling the essential public services needed by Nigerians. Corruption in the award of public contracts is one area where a number of corrupt public officials become wealthy. Billions of naira are spent on various capital projects (roads, hospital buildings etc) yet many of these projects are never completed. Whilst the poor in rural communities in Nigeria find it hard to access basic public services like health care, the public servants and politicians responsible for making this happen get richer.

On the 31st of January of 2018, the UK government introduced the Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) which is an investigative tool that aims to interrogate the source of wealth of property owners in the UK and will aid in the recovery of corrupt assets particularly when politically exposed persons (PEPS) or individuals with luxurious properties cannot justify the source of their wealth. This act will help Nigeria to recover corrupt assets and end the impunity of some of our officials. However it would be much more impactful if our own asset declaration law was properly implemented, instead of what is currently experienced where a large number of public officials do not declare their assets. Even in cases where some declare their assets at the beginning of their tenure, they hardly declare their assets when leaving public office.

Beyond having a policy or an executive order in place, there needs to be a change in behaviour amongst Nigerian generally. We need to start asking questions when we see our family friends or family members that have suddenly acquired luxurious properties or cars which is apparently above their legal income. Pastors and priests in churches need to stop collecting thanksgiving donations from church members who they know have been corrupt.

Nigerians cannot continue to allow these practices. We need to start asking questions. We need to stop tolerating and celebrating unexplained wealth.