By Doyin Ojosipe
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), has been officially recognised as an Associate Member of the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN).
This was made known through an email by the global network, notifying the organisation of the approval of WIN’s Board of Trustees.
The email reads, “I am writing to you on behalf of Anna and John Devitt, Chair of the WIN Board, to confirm that the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) is now officially an Associate of WIN following approval by the Board of Trustees…We are delighted to finally and formally welcome you to the WIN civil society community.”
WIN is a group of international non-governmental organisations that is focused on providing support to whistle-blowers through free legal services and or advocacy for their wellbeing.
WIN’s Associate organisations are vital to protecting whistleblowers and advancing their disclosures around the world. They work as independent journalists, academics, advocates, and campaigners. These organisations fight for the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly; they research the issues, investigate disclosures, advocate for policy change and campaign on whistleblower cases and rights. These organisations understand that protecting whistleblowers is essential to the public’s right to know and access to information.
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) is a non-governmental organization that focuses on media, information, research, advocacy and training. It aims to promote media and information literacy as a key component in the enhancement of democracy and good governance, and the promotion of accountability and orderly society.
Among other activities, AFRICMIL has been working in the last three years on promoting whistleblowing and protection of whistleblowers in Nigeria under its Corruption Anonymous (CORA) project.
“AFRICMIL is excited to join the WIN family,” said Chido Onumah, Coordinator of the organisation. “There is a lot we can learn from good practices around the world. WIN has been supportive of the work we are doing in Nigeria on whistle blowing and protection of whistle blowers. We believe our membership of this important global organisation will enhance our work.”
AFRICMIL’s whistle blowing project tagged Corruption Anonymous (CORA) is currently in its third year. The project, funded by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation aims to build public support and confidence in the whistleblowing policy of the Nigerian government through public sensitization, ensuring honest implementation of the policy and protection of whistleblowers. In the last two years, AFRICMIL with the support of its media and civil society partners has successfully worked for the reinstatement of two whistleblowers, Ntia Thompson and Aaron Kaase who were victimized by their employers for blowing the whistle. The organisation is pursuing the case of other whistleblowers: Joseph Babatunde Akeju, Murtala Ibrahim and Abdullahi Sambo.
The next stage of the CORA project is focused on institutionalizing whistleblowing in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including regulatory and revenue generating agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), as well as staff unions of commercial banks. The aim is for these organizations to adopt the whistleblower guideline as a way of fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in the public and private sectors.
CORA is also developing the concept of civic engagement and citizen reporting through the Corruption Anonymous website.
It is also pushing to sustain the notion of whistle blowing across board; the passage of the Whistle Blower Act as a basis for strengthening the war against corruption by protecting whistle blowers and the formation of a civil society coalition around whistle blowing to ensure broad acceptance of the whistle-blower initiative.
