Bukola Afeni
Young Nigerian creatives have pledged to utilize art, music and storytelling to promote whistleblowing, integrity and accountability in the country.
They stated this after emerging winners at the 2026 World Whistleblower Day Art and Media Competition organised by Step Up Nigeria in collaboration with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa.
The competition received 172 submissions from participants across 31 states, with winners emerging in five categories and each receiving a ₦500,000 prize.
The winners are Gilbert Owan(Skit), Akinfolarin Jeremiah Damilola (Music), Anita Wokoji (Poetry and Spoken Word), Moses Idowu Sodipo (Arts) and Oguche Gabriel (Writing).
Speaking after winning the Poetry and Spoken Word category, Anita Wokoji said artists have a responsibility to use their craft to address societal issues and inspire change.
“My assignment as an artist is not just to create art but to inspire the next generation of leaders,” she said.
Wokoji described storytelling as a powerful tool for civic engagement, noting that art can help ordinary Nigerians understand issues such as whistleblowing and accountability.
“When there is something happening in your community or your environment, and you are experiencing wrongdoing, you should speak out. Corruption is corruption, irrespective of where it is happening.”
She added that lasting social change often begins with consistent and intentional conversations.
“Words are powerful. They are like seeds. As long as you are making them feel and think, one day they will act and make the right choice,” she said.
Music category winner Jeremiah Akinfolarin said he plans to use music and film to influence young people and promote positive values.
“Moving forward, I plan on creating more content that showcases and preaches a lot of things that have to do with being on the right path, talking about wrongdoings, exposing things that are not right in society,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey into filmmaking, Akinfolarin recounted how a church drama production contributed to the reconciliation of a separated couple.
“I saw that I had been able to use my craft to save someone’s marriage,” he said.
He stressed the importance of courage in reporting wrongdoing, saying, “We will make a better Nigeria if only we take that courage to move forward with it.”
Programme Manager of Step Up Nigeria, Feranmi Iyanda, said the competition demonstrated growing youth interest in whistleblowing and accountability.
“We received over 172 entries from 31 states in Nigeria. Young people are interested in talking about whistleblowing and that is something remarkable,” she said.
Iyanda announced that the winners would form the first cohort of World Whistleblower Day Fellows, a network expected to mentor future participants and sustain advocacy efforts.
She also renewed calls for the passage of a whistleblower protection law in Nigeria.
“There was a policy passed in 2016 by the Ministry of Finance, but there is still no whistleblower protection law in Nigeria,” she said.
According to her, whistleblowing extends beyond anti-corruption and includes reporting issues related to public safety, security, environmental concerns and other matters affecting the public interest.
Representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Suleiman Achebe highlighted the commission’s efforts to promote integrity among young Nigerians through Student Anti-Corruption Clubs in secondary schools and Student Anti-Corruption Vanguard programmes in tertiary institutions.
“Part of the bigger definition of integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching,” he said.
Communications Manager of Step Up Nigeria, Dr. Shekwogaza Kure, said the competition was designed to amplify young voices and encourage conversations around whistleblowing, accountability, transparency and stronger legal protection for whistleblowers.
“The competition gave young Nigerians an opportunity to use creativity as a tool for advocacy,” he said.
Kure added that Step Up Nigeria would release two podcast episodes as part of activities marking World Whistleblower Day, featuring experts and winners of the competition.
