Joseph Bakare
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on youths across the country to unite and take the lead in the fight against corruption.
He made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, December 5, 2024 while addressing stakeholders at a Town Hall Meeting in preparatory commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day at the corporate headquarters of the Commission.
The 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day will be held on December 9, 2024 and is themed, “Uniting the Youths Against Corruption”. In a Keynote Address, Olukoyede decried the adverse impact of corruption on the prospects of young people and the urgent need for collective action. “Corruption limits the opportunities for self-actualization and tilts the playing field in favour of a privileged few. A corrupt society cannot provide the equal opportunities that every young person needs to thrive,” he said.
He further lamented the increasing allure of internet fraud among youths, describing it as a threat to their future. “The allure of easy money through cybercrime draws many young people into criminality. However, there is no sustainable success in internet fraud; it only leads to a grim future. Youths must reject such practices and embrace integrity,” he said.
Olukoyede proposed actionable strategies for youths to form a united front against corruption. He urged them to build synergy through associations, societies, platforms such as clubs and think tanks that promote accountability and good values. “Let me point out the route that can be taken by youths to achieve unity in the fight against corruption. One of those routes is deliberate synergy against graft.
They can do this by forming associations, clubs, think tanks, societies that promote good values. It is high time youths joined hands together to pursue values that will add strength to their lives”, he said.
The EFCC’s boss also stressed that youths can lend forces and voices in support of activities of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC . “Progress-inclined youths should be more vibrant in identifying with the activities of the Commission. There are structures in place for active engagement with youths at the EFCC. At the Primary and Secondary School level, we have the Integrity Club serving as a rallying point for students. At the Tertiary Institution level, we have the Zero Tolerance Club. They are all platforms for engagement against corrupt practices”.
He advanced support for whistleblowing as another potent means of tackling graft by young people, stressing that “there is no way corruption can be tackled if we allow it around us without a challenge. Youths have formidable roles to play in this regard. There is a need for stronger energy against the corrupt in our midst. No effort is too little and no sacrifice is too tasking in this regard”.
He futher called for individual and corporate accountability by youths, pointing out that, “no matter the structure any youth may want to form against corrupt practices, without a self-driven resolve to reject such practices, no other framework can work. This means that personal choices and decisions against corruption count better than any other force”.
The EFCC Chairman urged young Nigerians to view integrity as a non-negotiable principle by rejecting the “shortcut” mentality, stating, “taking shortcuts always cuts people short.
The event featured a panel discussion moderated by the Director, Public Affairs Department of the EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren. The panelists included legal experts, union leaders and civil society representatives, as well as top officials of the Commission.
One of the panelists, Abba Kaka stressed the need for early education to youths on integrity and values starting from the family unit. “Parents are the first teachers. If the foundation is missed, it becomes harder to instill the right values later,” he said.
Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, Director of Legal and Prosecution at the EFCC, emphasized the importance of collaboration between anti-corruption agencies and the public. “The fight against corruption cannot succeed without the involvement of youths. You must take the message home and spread it to others,” he urged.
Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, encouraged the youths to reject association with corrupt individuals, adding that their future depends on their integrity. “Following corrupt people only fools you. Work hard, be transparent, and you will succeed without cutting corners,” he said.
Participants, including students and youth leaders, commended the EFCC’s efforts and shared insights on how young people can actively participate in the anti-corruption crusade.
Discussions on the same issue were held across all the Zonal Commands of the EFCC. In Enugu, Sokoto, Ibadan, Lagos, Ilorin and other Commands of the Commission, Zonal Directors spoke for Olukoyede charging youths to embrace right values and shun criminal tendencies