A West African sub regional human rights and environmental concern organization, Human Rights Advancement Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC) on Tuesday in Lagos held a roundtable discussion on strengthening the Lagos State Anti-corruption Commission.
The roundtable discussion attracted participants from civil society and community based organizations, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), persons living with disability, the media, etc.
The Executive director of HURIDAC Mr Ayodele Ameen, in declaring the meeting open, emphasized that HURIDAC as a frontline anti corruption organization is interested in the inauguration of the commission after it’s signing into law by the Lagos State government in order to partner and collaborate with it in the fight against corruption in the state
CMAP programme manager, Ms Mfon Enoidem, took the participants on the journey on how HURIDAC has been contributing to the anti-corruption war through CMAP programmes and activities in Lagos State through engagements with critical stakeholders as well as the use of the media for information dissemination and sensitization.
Ameen also used the occasion to launch the CMAP report, which is a joint venture between HURIDAC and MacArthur foundation in the last three years of educating and sensitizing societal stakeholders on corruption and policy reforms to combat it in Lagos State.
Comrade Debo Adeniran, the National President of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) and Executive Director of Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), lauded HURIDAC efforts in the anti-corruption war, which he acknowledged is not a tea party.
He encouraged all to remain courageous and determined to win the war for a better society.
He recounted the many battles that have been waged in the fight against corruption and admonished that it’s a long battle which is not for the faint hearted because corruption will fight back.
Barr. Oluwaseyi Olawunmi, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, lauded HURIDAC for the roundtable discussion and promised the support and collaboration of the NBA with the Lagos State Anti-corruption Commission in the discharge of its functions when it eventually rolls out for operations.
Other stakeholders present who spoke included Prince Rotimi Adeniyi, the Lagos State chairman of People Living With Disability (PLWD), Comrade Sina Odugbemi of HEDA, Comrade Biliamin Lekan Oba, Lagos State chapter, chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mr Gbadamosi Adewale, a community leader.
Other speakers at the event, commended HURIDAC for taking the lead in bringing to the front burner, the need for the operations of the Lagos State Anti-icorruption Commission to commence and how to strengthen it for effective performance, while soliciting for support and collaboration with the commission in the discharge of its functions.
