CENTAL launches Integrity Club at UL

The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has conducted a training workshop for the formation of an integrity club on the campus of the University of Liberia.

The workshop convened approximately 75 students, who benefited from training in integrity, leadership and good governance issues. UNDP Representative Boye Johnson reaffirmed continued support to the integrity club formation process.
Addressing the opening session, Mr. Johnson challenged the soon-to-be integrity club members to exhibit exemplary lifestyle rather than allowing themselves to be carried away by the spoiled political system.
He described corruption as an abstract term, and asserted that the phenomenon is very difficult to fight physically, saying “It therefore requires concerted effort by all well-meaning citizens particularly, from the education sector.”
He charged the students to become torchbearers in the fight against all societal ills that often lead to illiteracy and poverty, civil discontent and violent conflicts.
For his part, the Coordinator of the OEI Project, Mr. Gerald Dan Yeakula, called on participants to see the I-club as an opportunity for capacity building and youth empowerment.
He noted that the I-club could form a critical mass of young people determined to become leaders in their respective professions.
The ongoing UNDP/CENTAL I-Club formation process is a pilot exercise aimed at tackling corruption in the educational sector by creating mass movement of youthful population that says no to corruption and promotes integrity values in schools.
I-Club UL is a precursor to others in the pipeline of universities to be established to spearhead engagements around integrity issues that involve various stakeholders from university campuses and society in general.
The idea of integrity club originated since 2006 with the understanding that achieving national decentralization requires CENTAL and other relevant good governance advocates must redesign their program implementation strategies to mirror citizen ownership and participation.
Anti-corruption activist and CENTAL Program Manager, Anderson Miamen, lectured on the topic: Understanding Corruption: Its Ramifications and Effects, Causes and Remedies.
Norris Tweh, Vice President of UL Relations, lectured on “The Place of Integrity in Creating an Enabling Environment for Youth Development”, while Mohammed Bility, Deputy Commissioner of Customs for Policy and Compliance at the Bureau of Customs & Excise presented on “Leadership and Tips for Success.”Editing by Jonathan Browne