By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has taken a strategic step to strengthen public engagement in the fight against corruption by forging a partnership with digital content creators and social media influencers in Borno State.
The collaboration emerged during a recent meeting between the Borno State Office of the anti-graft agency and members of the Content Creators and Social Media Influencers Association in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. The engagement marked a significant effort to bridge the gap between anti-corruption institutions and the growing influence of digital media platforms in shaping public opinion.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the commission, J. Okor Odey, the meeting followed a courtesy visit by the association to the ICPC office, a move that underscored the group’s willingness to support the commission’s ongoing campaign to promote integrity and accountability in society.
Welcoming the delegation, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner in the state, Linus Gubbi, highlighted the powerful role of social media in influencing attitudes and driving social change. He noted that in today’s digital age, content creators and online influencers have become important stakeholders in promoting ethical behaviour and challenging corrupt practices.
Gubbi therefore urged the influencers to leverage their digital platforms—including Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp—to amplify the commission’s anti-corruption messages and promote integrity among their followers.
He also encouraged them to translate the commission’s ideals into local languages and culturally relatable formats that would resonate with a broader audience, making anti-corruption advocacy more accessible and engaging.
The ICPC official further advised the creators to adopt creative storytelling approaches such as short videos, skits and animations to highlight the dangers of corruption and its far-reaching consequences on national development.
According to him, increasing public awareness about reporting corruption is also crucial, and he urged the influencers to educate their audiences on how to report suspicious activities through the commission’s official communication channels.
To sustain the collaboration, Gubbi assured the association that the commission would organise regular seminars and capacity-building programmes for its members. These sessions, he explained, would provide updates on ICPC initiatives while also identifying areas where digital creators can contribute more effectively to anti-corruption advocacy.
Responding on behalf of the delegation, the Chairman of the Borno State Chapter of the association, Williams Sunday, expressed appreciation to the ICPC for the opportunity to collaborate with the commission.
He described the engagement as both an honour and a responsibility, stressing that the fight against corruption requires collective action from all sectors of society.
Sunday pledged that members of the association would utilise their creativity and online reach to support the commission’s awareness campaigns by producing educational and engaging content that discourages corrupt practices and promotes ethical conduct.
The meeting ended on a note of shared commitment, signalling the beginning of a strategic alliance between institutional authority and digital creativity aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption and fostering a culture of integrity in Nigeria.
