The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace honesty, integrity and courage to speak out against corruption and all forms of economic and financial crimes, pointing out that every act of corruption is wrong and destructive.
According to a statement from the X official website of the agency on Monday, he made the call in Abuja last week, during a sensitization and re-engagement visit to students of Battle Axe Academy, Abuja.
Olukoyede, represented by the Head of Public Interface Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Tony Orilade, he encouraged the students to be truthful, patriotic, and fearless in condemning wrongdoings, regardless of who is involved.
“You should be truthful in whatever you do, be honest, be patriotic, and be outspoken when something is done that is wrong. Every act of corruption is wrong, including beating traffic lights, so stand against all malpractices and be outspoken against whoever is doing it, even if they are your parents,” he said.
The EFCC boss highlighted the importance of establishing Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools, stating that the initiative is aimed at moulding young minds to reject corruption and all forms of criminal activities.
“We don’t want to give up on you. If the older generations are resisting change, our hope is with you so that you can grow and drive the change that we want to see in the future,” he said.
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He further advised the students to avoid any association with crime, particularly cybercrime, warning that becoming ex-convicts could damage their future prospects of employment and holding political offices.
In her remarks, the Head of Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit of the Commission, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, appealed to the students to embody good character and integrity.
“Even the holy scriptures, the Qur’an and Bible, encourage us to be good and avoid being driven by greed and self-centeredness,” she said.
Mohammed further lamented that internet fraud, popularly known as yahoo-yahoo, has damaged Nigeria’s reputation globally.
However, she charged the students to be good ambassadors of the country and change the negative narrative through positive conduct and integrity.
“Yahoo boys have damaged the reputation of this country; that is why we are here today to preach to you to be good ambassadors of our dear country and change the narrative when you come of age.
“The EFCC is here to instill integrity in you so that you will be good and lead the country out of the mess the older generations have placed the nation into,” she said.
Highlighting the Commission’s preventive measures against corruption, Mohammed noted that the EFCC has established various clubs aimed at reaching out to the youth and constantly engaging them against fraud and dishonesty.
According to her, the clubs include; Integrity Clubs for Primary and Secondary Schools, Zero Tolerance Clubs for higher institutions, and Community Development Service groups under the NYSC scheme.
“The essence is to keep in touch with the youths and constantly engage them to dissociate themselves from all forms of fraud, dishonesty, and fraud,” she said.
In addition, Mohammed called on parents, especially mothers, to strengthen their efforts in raising children with sound morals, noting that parents are their children’s first role models.
She also urged parents to discipline their children and ensure they avoid wrongdoing, while also building resistance against accepting anything that does not belong to them.
