In 2015, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was elected by citizens inspired by his assurances to fight corruption, and his government has since taken steps to keep this promise. Initiatives include strengthening anti-corruption institutions, implementing fiscal reforms, and joining the Open Government Partnership. However, the initial excitement is turning into disenchantment as Nigerian voters realize that, despite Buhari’s good intentions, corruption remains deeply entrenched in their country. Recent state and parliamentary elections have witnessed low voter turnout, while public trust in politicians and the state continues to decline. In his presentation, Oludotun Babayemi will examine how the structure of Nigeria’s political institutions perpetuate corrupt practices. He will also offer recommendations on how both domestic organizations and international funders can tackle corruption, including the use of citizen-led initiatives such as Follow the Money. Debra LaPrevotte will offer comments.
featuring
Oludotun Babayemi
Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow
Co-Founder, Connected Development (CODE)
with comments by
Debra LaPrevotte
Senior Investigator, The Sentry
moderated by
Christopher O’Connor
Program Officer for West Africa
National Endowment for Democracy
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004
