Policy Innovation Centre Selects 30 Inaugural BiNTA Fellows for Capacity Strengthening
12th of October, 2023, Abuja, Nigeria – The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), today announces the selection of 30 dynamic individuals for the Behavioural Insights Network Transparency & Accountability (BiNTA) Fellowship, who will participate in an innovative program aimed at driving behavioural change and combating corruption in Nigeria. BiNTA Fellowship, a pioneer for behavioural re-engineering, is designed to build capacity among innovators and changemakers as champions in the fight against corruption.
Supported by the MacArthur Foundation, BiNTA Fellowship aims to strengthen the capacity of these anti-corruption changemakers to leverage behavioural insights in disrupting the socially normative status of corruption in Nigeria.
According to the Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, “the first edition of this initiative is focused on strengthening the capacity of 30 carefully selected anti-corruption changemakers sourced from diverse sectors of the economy to co-create behaviourally-informed anti-corruption initiatives and support them in implementing those initiatives. The training, co-creation and implementation support will be provided and guided by seasoned experts, mentors and the Behavioural Innovation Lab of the PIC.”
She stated further that the selection process was highly competitive and broadly inclusive, attracting applicants from the public and private sectors, from the academia, as well as other sectors of the economy. “Firstly, the selection criteria was based on the character of the candidates in relation to their corruption records. We also examined their competencies as demonstrated in a track-record of prior leadership and initiative in any social endeavour. Then their abilities to think innovatively on issues surrounding the anti-corruption landscape in Nigeria were examined. Moreso, special attention was given to female candidates to ensure gender balance and equity.”
Some of the recipients of this laudable initiative include: Godwin Ochube, Nonprofit Strategic Specialist at Centre for Fiscal Transparency & Integrity Watch; Oludamilola Onemano, Research Analyst at Budgit; Orinya Agbaji Orinya, Programme Manager at Rich Oak Life Initiative; Blessing Oladunjoye, Development Media Professional at Data Infrastructure and Analytics, Emani; Muhammad Abdulkarim, Civil servant with Transmission Company of Nigeria; Oluwabunmi Falebita, NISER Research Fellow (Postdoctoral); Safiya Musa, Social Impact Strategist at Edushine Educational Support Foundation and others.
Dr. Dirisu said that “this first set of BiNTA Fellows will be privileged to be part of the foundational members of the community of practice for behavioural insights practitioners which will enable continued, sustained and collaborative engagement through which the potentials of behavioural insights to drive changes in social behaviour will continue to be harnessed and promoted over the long haul”.
The Fellowship will run for 6 months and there are plans to continue subsequent editions. Also, the Fellowship is delivered hybrid, affording candidates from various parts of the country to participate. Worthy of note is a new Learning Management System (LMS) developed with courses designed for behavioural insights for anti-corruption. The LMS is to be used by the candidates and eventually opened up to members of the Behavioural Insights Network Community of Practice.
About the BiNTA Fellowship
BiNTA Fellowship is an initiative of the Behavioural Innovation Lab of the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and is funded by the MacArthur Foundation. The fellowship envisions an Africa where transparency and accountability are embraced, entrenched, and promoted as the norm in all sectors and spheres of society, leading to accelerated development for the continent.
BiNTA Fellowship is a human enterprise which is committed to equipping innovators and changemakers with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to drive initiatives that create lasting behavioural change and combat corruption in Nigeria. By merging behavioural science with anti-corruption strategies, the fellowship aims to bring about a positive transformation in the Nigerian society.
