…graduates 30 changemakers
Supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) through its Behavioural Insights Network Transparency & Accountability (BiNTA) Fellowship has graduated its first cohort of 30 anti-corruption changemakers.
These fellows, drawn from various sectors, are committed to driving anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of PIC, emphasised that the BiNTA fellowship was designed to strengthen the capacity of anti-corruption change makers to leverage behavioural insights to disrupt the social normative status of corruption in Nigeria.
“We are moving you from being fellows into collaborators. Together, we will be driving a large ecosystem of people who can do valuable work to fight corruption in Nigeria”, she said.
She affirmed that the Policy Innovation Centre will continue to build capacity for Nigerians committed to combating corruption, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability beyond this first cohort.
Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, who was also present at the ceremony, lauded the fellowship as a milestone in the fight against corruption and the promotion of ethical practices across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
He said: “It is my firm belief that the knowledge, insight and solutions by the BiNTA fellows will make a significant impact on the way we approach governance and anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria.
“I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to the MacArthur Foundation for their support for this important initiative. Your continued investment in Nigeria’s future is invaluable and we are all deeply appreciative of your partnership and quest for a more transparent and accountable society, commending the MacArthur Foundation for their support.”
Winner Mugana, one of the BiNTA Fellows, described the fellowship as an incredible journey that provided the support she needed to drive change in the energy sector within Kabusa Community, Abuja.
“Beyond the impact on the community, I have personally gained so much from this fellowship that I can apply in my work in the energy sector,” she shared. “I’m very grateful to the Policy Innovation Centre and the MacArthur Foundation for the opportunity to be part of this program.”
The six-month fellowship included rigorous training and mentorship, a co-creation phase for developing anti-corruption initiatives using behavioural insights, and an implementation phase where fellows executed their projects with PIC’s support.
At the event, the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) also launched the Behavioural Insights Network, a community of practice for behavioural insights practitioners, and the enhanced Learning
Management System to support this ecosystem. Femi Obidare, Project Coordinator, described these as essential platforms for sustaining and expanding anti-corruption efforts.
Dr. Amina Salihu, Senior Programme Officer at the MacArthur Foundation, praised the fellows’ project presentations, describing them as “strategically relevant”.
Dr. Salihu highlighted the importance of applying behavioural insights in tackling other societal issues and urged fellows to continue applying their learning. She also underscored the importance of integrating gender and social inclusion strategies into projects and called for strategic government engagement at all levels.
BiNTA Fellowship was designed by the Policy Innovation Centre’s Behavioural Innovation Lab and is set to start a second cohort by the second quarter of 2025.
The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalised behavioural initiative in Africa to support government and stakeholders to make behaviorally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact-driven interventions in critical thematic areas. The Policy Innovation Centre is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think-tank in Africa redefining evidence-based policy advocacy.