The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged youths across the country to join the anti-corruption crusade of the Commission, noting that the future of the country depends largely on the commitment of the younger generation towards integrity, transparency and accountability.
He gave the charge recently when students of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa State came on a study tour of the Commission at the EFCC’s Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Olukoyede, who was represented by Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Nwanyinma Okeanu, underscored the strategic role of young people in shaping the nation’s destiny.
“The country’s future depends on you. You must therefore join the EFCC in cleansing the nation of all forms of economic and financial crimes for a better tomorrow,” he said.
He urged the students to contribute their quota to national development by upholding integrity and resisting negative influences.
“You need to do your part in developing this nation. Avoid bad company, focus on your studies and be good ambassadors of your parents, your institution, your community and the nation at large. Any country whose youth population is involved in fraud cannot have an assured future. Join the EFCC in making Nigeria great,” he said.
The EFCC boss further admonished the students to stay away from cybercrime and other fraudulent practices, noting that short-term gains from criminal activities often lead to long-term consequences, including reputational damage and imprisonment.
On her part, the Head of Enlightenment and Re-Orientation Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, emphasised the importance of youth participation in the anti-corruption fight. She enlightened the students on the tripartite mandate of the EFCC: prevention, investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes.
She noted that the Commission has strengthened its preventive frameworks through the establishment of Integrity Clubs and Zero Tolerance Clubs in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country, as well as sustained collaboration with critical stakeholders.
“You are the future of this country. If you get it right, Nigeria will get it right. Be contented. Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into living beyond your means. Always cut your coat according to your cloth,” she said.
In a presentation on cybersecurity, Inspector of the EFCC, Kayode Eniola, educated the students on the nature and consequences of cybercrimes. She described cybercrimes as criminal activities perpetrated through digital communication tools and internet-enabled platforms.
She identified phishing, hacking and online romance scams as common forms of cybercrime.
“Hacking involves unauthorised access to another person’s system or network,” she said, adding that victims of cybercrimes often suffer financial losses, privacy breaches and reputational damage.
She further advised the students to adopt preventive measures such as using strong passwords, updating their software regularly, avoiding suspicious links and logging out of shared devices after use.
The visit featured an interactive session where students asked questions on the Commission’s operations, as well as a quiz competition designed to assess their understanding of the lectures. Two students emerged as winners and were presented with souvenirs.
In her closing remarks, Chioma Obasi, a student of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa State, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for the warm reception and the insights gained during the visit. She described the engagement as enlightening and impactful, noting that the interaction strengthened the bond between her Institution and the Commission.
