Joseph Bakare
The African Students Union Parliament on Friday, August 21, 2026, applauded the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, for his leadership and efforts in the fight against corruption and economic crimes in Nigeria.
The students presented Olukoyede with the Pan-African Leadership Hall of Fame Award as Africa’s Patriotic Icon of Integrity and Leadership during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters.
Speaking on behalf of the delegates, the Nigerian representative of ASUP, Comrade James Uneze, said the honour was in recognition of Olukoyede’s contributions to nation building and his efforts to tackle economic and cybercrimes.
Uneze, who is a student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said the students had closely followed the EFCC Chairman’s record in the fight against “economic crimes, cyber fraud and financial crimes”, adding that his leadership had made an impact on Nigerians.
“We share in your remarkable characteristics, visions, and quest for positive national development,” he said.
He described the EFCC Chairman as a role model whose efforts had given hope to Nigerians affected by financial crimes and economic hardship.
“Today, we have a man of integrity, a man with confidence in the person of Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman who is fighting immensely to ensure that Nigeria attains its economic glory. He is fighting corruption, financial crime, and also recovering stolen funds and properties to ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President is achieved,” Uneze stated.
The student leader said the award was also connected to the union’s campaigns against cyber fraud, drug abuse, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and other social problems threatening African youths.
He said the organisation believed that young Africans must be actively involved in building a better continent.
“Today, we are not fighting for independence, though we frown at and condemn the act of racism. But what we are doing in our own corner is reintroducing or rearticulating the concept of Pan-Africanism and Pan-Africanism for us is the development of Africa by Africans and for Africa,” he said.
The award plaque presented to Olukoyede described him as “Africa’s patriotic icon of integrity and leadership” and recognised his “immense contributions to nation building,” patriotism, economic and human capital development, renewal of the Pan-Africanism ideology and promotion of peace across racial, national and religious boundaries.
Receiving the award on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, the Head of the Commission’s Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, said the recognition was an indication that the commission’s efforts were being noticed and appreciated by young Africans.
Mohammed stressed that collaboration remained central to the EFCC’s operations, noting that the Commission could not effectively tackle corruption and other societal challenges alone.
“You cannot talk about EFCC without collaboration. It is part of our core values. We collaborate and we are open to collaboration. Nobody can do it alone,” she said.
She noted that Olukoyede also serves as Chairman of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, describing the award as “timely”.
“EFCC has collaboration and relationships with all anti-corruption agencies across Africa and even internationally. Just like I mentioned, collaboration is part of our core values,” she said.
She assured the delegation that the EFCC would continue to collaborate with stakeholders, particularly young people, in the fight against corruption and other social vices.
The delegation comprised students from various African countries including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Côte d’ Ivorie.