172 young voices, five outstanding winners, and one powerful message: protecting those who speak up is essential to building a more accountable Nigeria.
Creativity took center stage as young Nigerians transformed art into advocacy, using their talents to challenge corruption and champion a culture of accountability at the conclusion of the 2026 World Whistleblower Day Art & Media Competition.
Organised by Step Up Nigeria in partnership with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), the Media Roundtable and Awards Ceremony brought together anti-corruption agencies, media professionals, civil society actors, competition winners, and emerging changemakers to explore a vital question:
How can creativity strengthen whistleblower protection and inspire a culture of integrity in Nigeria?
At a time when corruption continues to erode public trust and hinder national development, the response from young Nigerians offered renewed hope. The competition proved that the nation’s youth are not passive observers waiting for change to happen—they are actively shaping it.
Through spoken word performances, poetry, music, skits, visual art, and creative writing, participants confronted difficult realities surrounding whistleblowing. Their entries highlighted the courage required to expose wrongdoing, the dangers whistleblowers often face, and the urgent need for stronger legal and institutional protections.
The competition attracted an impressive 172 entries from participants across 31 states, comprising 111 male and 61 female contestants. Collectively, these young creatives examined themes of integrity, citizen responsibility, transparency, and the importance of safeguarding those who act in the public interest.
Selected across five categories, the winners distinguished themselves through originality, emotional depth, and compelling storytelling:
Skit Category: Gilbert Owan – The Pledge
Music Category: Akinfolarin Jeremiah Damilola – Voice Against Silence
Poetry and Spoken Word Category: Anita Chigbomkpa Nwokoji – On The 7th Floor
Art Category: Moses Idowu Sodipo – The Veil of Governance
Written Article Category: Oguche Gabriel Onuche – In A World of Loud Evil, Silence is Permission
The Media Roundtable culminated in an awards ceremony that celebrated not only artistic excellence but also civic courage.
Speaking at the event, Feranmi Iyanda, Director of Programmes at Step Up Nigeria, described the competition as evidence of a growing interest among young Nigerians in issues of whistleblowing and accountability.
She announced that each winner would receive a ₦500,000 cash prize and become part of the inaugural cohort of World Whistleblower Day Fellows—a network expected to mentor future participants and sustain advocacy efforts long after the competition.
Iyanda further stressed that whistleblowing goes beyond exposing corruption. It also involves reporting threats to public safety, security concerns, environmental issues, and other matters affecting the public good.
According to Shekwogaza Kure, Communications Manager at Step Up Nigeria, the initiative was intentionally designed to amplify young voices and spark wider conversations around transparency, accountability, and stronger legal protection for whistleblowers.
“The competition gave young Nigerians an opportunity to use creativity as a tool for advocacy.”
— Shekwogaza Kure, Communications Manager, Step Up Nigeria
Kure also revealed that Step Up Nigeria would release two special podcast episodes to commemorate World Whistleblower Day, featuring both experts and competition winners.
Representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Suleiman Achebe highlighted the Commission’s ongoing efforts to nurture integrity among young people through Student Anti-Corruption Clubs in secondary schools and Student Anti-Corruption Vanguard groups in tertiary institutions.
“Part of the bigger definition of integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.”
— Suleiman Achebe, ICPC
For the winners, the recognition meant far more than receiving an award. It validated their talents, amplified their voices, and strengthened their resolve to use creativity as a force for social transformation.
One of the strongest messages from the gathering was clear: whistleblower protection is not merely a legal necessity—it is a democratic imperative. A society committed to transparency and justice must stand behind those brave enough to speak out in the public interest.
As participants and stakeholders reflected on the day’s conversations, one statement resonated deeply across the room:
“When there is a law that protects whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing, wrongdoing can no longer hold our society to ransom.”
As Nigeria continues its journey toward greater accountability, the role of young people, creative expression, and an independent media cannot be overstated. Together, they are helping to build a future where integrity is rewarded, citizens are empowered, and truth is protected.
Step Up Nigeria remains committed to promoting active citizenship and accountability through innovative, youth-centred approaches, while expressing gratitude to PPLAAF, partners, stakeholders, participants, and media allies whose support made the 2026 competition a resounding success.
