Joseph Bakare
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on students across the country to identify and emulate good models in the country in order to steer clear of internet fraud and other financial crimes.
The EFCC Chairman, made the call in Abuja on Thursday, November 7, 2024, when students of Val De Mauris Academy, Abuja, visited the Commission’s headquarters on a study tour.
Olukoyede, who spoke through the Head, Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE11 Aishat Mohammed, pointed out that, having good role models would imbue in students the right values which would insulate them from indulgence in internet fraud.
“Have good role models. This is necessary to draw you to the right contacts and influence for integrity. This way, you will be removed from any form of internet offence. Integrity is what you do when no one is watching you. Our hope is on you. Be focused. The future is bright as the sky will be your starting point,’’ she stated.
The Head, Communication and Creative Unit, Assistant Commander, ACE I, Chris Oluka, advised the students to always engage their minds in honest endeavours so as to be able to discern the good from the bad.
He asked them to deploy their creative minds to more rewarding positive careers by using the social media and internet to more creative ventures in furtherance of their education for a brighter future.
According to Oluka, students and youths should be mindful of what they do online, stating that the internet was meant for the good of humanity, research, academics, studying, information gathering and accurate data and not for crime and fraud.
“If found guilty by the law, the EFCC will not spare anyone of the crime committed. Every crime is a crime, irrespective of who is involved, and the EFCC will fight you to the very last. Whatever you do that you are not supposed to do and is against the law is corruption.
Also in his remark, Assistant Superintendent of EFCC, ASE I Ogunjobi Olalekan, stressed the importance of being hardworking students and determined and focused, stating that these qualities are imperative for students to attain excellence in their careers.
“For our dear students, you can be whatever you want to become by hard work and sheer determination. There’s a lot in the computer space. You can think and come up with creative inventions and make the best of it. You can be programmers, forensic analysts, financial analysts, investigators, developers, change makers and as nation builders,” he said.
Two students, Odimba Ikenna Ugochukwu and Sunday Aneke Sophia emerged winners in the EFCC’s Quiz competition and were gifted with a mobile phone each for their exemplary efforts while Khadijah Kabiru Bakan and Faheem Goodluck Hussein were crowned EFCC’s Ambassadors.