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.
“Corruption has played a great role in hindering women’s political participation, women’s access to justice, women’s peace and security, women’s economic empowerment, women sexual and reproductive rights, women’s right to education and women’s 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 on decision making.
“We are hoping that this meeting will create a synergy between service providers and the Nigerian women 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 reduction in corruption by encouraging the public to increasingly disapprove of corrupt activities.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the participants included professional women 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.
