At a primary school in Lagos, students are not only learning math and reading but also being taught about the dangers of corruption in one of the world’s most corruption-ridden countries. In the playground, Nigerian children, around the age of 10, gather to read aloud from Ansa’s Speech, a book that highlights the impacts of bribery and corruption.

The story follows a 13-year-old girl tasked with delivering a speech at her school for an important anniversary. However, the day before the event, corruption and bribery derail the plans, offering a powerful lesson for young readers. After reading the book, the children are engaged with questions and an interactive game to reinforce the lesson.

Ansa’s Speech has recently been added to the recommended reading list for schools by Lagos state authorities, as part of efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria, a nation ranked 145th out of 180 on Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index.

Feranmi Iyanda, from the Step Up Nigeria NGO, explains that the effects of corruption are felt by both children and adults in Nigeria, leading to poor infrastructure, inadequate education, and a lack of clean water. Through initiatives like distributing copies of Ansa’s Speech, Step Up Nigeria sparks important discussions among young children about these issues. Iyanda emphasizes the importance of teaching children that fighting corruption is crucial for their future role as leaders.

Since 2018, Step Up Nigeria has reached over 50,000 children in more than 1,000 schools nationwide, using books, animated films, and games to educate students about the harmful effects of corruption. The NGO has created four anti-corruption books aimed at children aged six to 12, helping them understand the consequences of favoritism and the misuse of public funds.

Onyinye Ough, author of Ansa’s Speech and head of Step Up Nigeria, notes that the books are designed to foster discussions about anti-corruption values among children, encouraging them to take these lessons home to their families.

At Winners School in Ketu, headteacher Ndukwu Mercy observes that, in nearly 20 years of teaching, anti-corruption books have rarely been included in the curriculum. With support from Step Up Nigeria, some teachers have found innovative ways to incorporate the anti-corruption message into their lessons. Ten-year-old Sulaiman is particularly excited about the upcoming anti-corruption week at his school, which will include theater, poetry, and drawing activities.

Step Up Nigeria advocates for a unified national message against corruption, emphasizing the need for sanctions against those involved in corrupt activities. Since taking office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended several senior officials linked to corruption scandals, including the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, over allegations of embezzling public funds.

“We all have a role to play in fighting corruption,” said Ough. “The state, citizens, and institutions must take responsibility. There’s still a long way to go.”