Project TAME – Track, Analyze, Map and Expose Corruption Risks

Introduction

Project TAME aims to contribute towards reducing corruption in service delivery by documenting/publicizing instances of corruption monitored through the sustained mass exercise of the watchdog initiative by ordinary Nigerian citizens. This involves tracking corruption schemes; analyzing & publishing the effects of these schemes on service delivery; mapping areas of vulnerability; and contrasting them with possible antidotes. These activities generate corruption risk assessments (CRAs) via a web app, which is then used in monitoring corruption susceptibility in entities.

INTEGRITY chose the Tertiary Education sector to pilot the idea. In order to encourage the widespread adoption of corruption prevention approaches, INTEGRITY sought to find and highlight emerging good practices from any vocal and influential community in Nigeria. The search brought us to the Tertiary Education community given that they are some of the most influential and vocal group in Nigeria.

Activities

The project had four key activities namely:

Research:
INTEGRITY decided to support and compliment the efforts already made by the ICPC/NUC with a decision to test the idea with a small crop of pilot institutions. Data was sourced from desk research, focus group discussions and interviews with students, academic staff and non-academic staff.  11 Universities were selected in all geopolitical zones, except the North East due to security reasons. The universities were also selected on the basis on having a vibrant campus radio service – a tool for mobilization. Within the 11 universities[1], Focus Group Discussions was carried out. Of which about 38% comprised of females and 62% males. A follow-up review visit was also carried out using in-depth questionnaires to gather more information.  A compendium of corruption schemes and corresponding antidotes were developed from the sourced data, which were used as the core component of the App.

Development of Incentives:
Stakeholders’ buy-in and feedback on information which pertains corruption schemes, effects and antidotes were deemed essential to the project. To incentivize the universities, the project decided that Corruption Prevention Awards (CPA) ceremony is to be held biennially in collaboration with one of our partners Conrad Clark to ‘Name and Praise’ entities with acceptable levels of corruption risk. The Corruption Prevention Awards is based on the Corruption Prevention Risk Assessment Model which is divided into 3 areas:

  1. Organisational Self-Assessment
  2. Stakeholders’ Perception Test
  3. Independent Trained Assessor

Furthermore, Integrity alongside our collaborators, ICPC, invited the Vice Chancellors (VCs) and one other key representative of 8 selected universities to a roundtable in Abuja. The aim of the roundtable event was to enable peer learning with the administrators of other Universities on corruption vulnerabilities. The roundtable also afforded the universities the opportunity to compare notes on good practices used in reducing susceptibilities to corruption in university. The VCs and representatives of 5 universities attended the roundtable event. The universities in attendance performed an informal self-assessment by way of presentation. The roundtable was deemed a success by participants (CSOs were also in attendance).

Development of the software:
For this activity, the project was delivered an initial product of a corruption risks web app. The product was presented to the public to generate public opinion and to solicit feedback. The software was well received by the public and recommendations and suggestions coming out of the presentation were noted.  The media and prospective independent assessors were in attendance. A call for assessors (watchdogs) was made in the month of July with close to 80 individuals from across all geo-political zones as well as the Diaspora expressing interest.

Outreach & Publicity:
One of the major outcomes of project TAME is the Corruption Prevention Recognition event which was took place in conjunction with the 5th Christopher Kolade Lecture (CK5) on June 29, 2017. This event saw the Acting President, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN GCON as our Special Guest of Honour. Prof. Osinbajo in his address commended Project TAME. Out 11 universities reviewed, 5 universities were shortlisted based on the highest scores. These universities represent those found to have exerted the greatest efforts when it comes to corruption prevention. The results were, at our request, announced by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Mrs. R.A. Okoduwa, mni, of the ICPC at the event. ICPC collaborated with Integrity on this project.

In addition, Integrity embarked on a campaign strategy using persuasive communications (through articles, 60 sec videos, radio & tv appearance, tweet sessions etc.) to raise awareness on the issues of corruption. It is estimated that about 22,000,000 people were reached as a result of our campaign via traditional media (TV) and over 3 million were reached via social media.

[1] University of Lagos (LAG), University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Lagos State University (LASU), University of Nigeria (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (ZIK), University of Uyo (UYO), University of Jos (JOS), Bayero University Kano (BUK), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).

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