NEITI Reaffirms Commitment to Empowering Youths as Accountability Champions in Nigeria’s Extractive Industries At the commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, highlighted the critical role of young Nigerians in building a future anchored on transparency and integrity. Speaking at the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) meeting and the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) event, Adar described the global theme—“Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”—as timely and deeply aligned with Nigeria’s aspirations for a fair, transparent, and prosperous society. Youths: Nigeria’s Biggest Strength in the Anti-Corruption Fight According to Adar, young people remain the nation’s greatest source of hope: “Their energy, innovation, and desire for a more just society position them at the centre of the global fight against corruption. NEITI is committed to empowering young Nigerians not only as advocates for accountability but also as active partners in shaping the future of integrity in the extractive industries and beyond.” He emphasized that corruption continues to undermine national growth, distort resource governance, and widen inequality. But with a united and informed generation, these barriers can be dismantled. NEITI’s Ongoing Efforts: Education, Reporting, Innovation & Engagement Adar noted that NEITI will continue to strengthen its youth-focused initiatives, including: Expanding civic education Enhancing transparency and reporting mechanisms Supporting youth-led innovations Creating more platforms for engagement with young professionals, students, and entrepreneurs He stressed that International Anti-Corruption Day serves as a reminder that building a corruption-free Nigeria requires collaboration across government, industry, civil society—and especially the youth. Tax Transparency: A Key Component of Nigeria’s Future Adar also revealed that NEITI has concluded a new policy-backed brief on implementing Nigeria’s 2025 tax and revenue reforms. This roadmap: Assesses alignment with global standards of transparency and accountability Outlines strategies for effective revenue administration Recommends safeguards to protect the fiscal autonomy of states and local government areas He warned that: “A robust tax reform without citizen oversight is simply centralisation under another name. Transparency must never be an afterthought.” NEITI’s Role: Independent Oversight for Sustainable Prosperity NEITI, according to Adar, remains fully committed to providing: Independent oversight Multi-stakeholder dialogue Accountability mechanisms to ensure meaningful reform outcomes—especially in the extractive sector He called on all stakeholders to adopt and support the recommended roadmap so that the 2025 tax reforms contribute to inclusive growth, fiscal accountability, and sustainable prosperity. A Call to Nigeria’s Youth Adar concluded by celebrating the resilience and integrity of Nigeria’s youth: “I invite our young people to join hands with NEITI as we work collectively to shape a future defined by honesty, justice, and shared prosperity.”