The Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) has announced plans to confer its Fellowship on the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, in recognition of his work in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
Olukoyede will be named a Fellow of the National Labour Institute (FNLI) at an investiture scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The Institute’s Director-General/CEO, Issa Aremu, disclosed this in a letter to the EFCC boss, saying the management and staff of MINILS had endorsed the honour in view of his “sterling achievements.” The letter described the award as the Institute’s “premium appreciation” of his efforts.
The investiture will take place during a conference on illegal mining, corruption and climate resilience, organised by MINILS in collaboration with the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) and the EFCC. It will be held at the main auditorium of the Institute in Ilorin.
The conference theme is “Safeguarding the Future: Addressing the Nexus of Illegal Mining, Corruption and Climate Resilience in Africa.”
In a separate letter inviting Olukoyede to serve as Chief Guest Speaker, the Institute commended his leadership since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 12, 2023. It said the Commission’s efforts against economic crimes, illicit financial flows and resource theft had been globally acknowledged.
The Institute added that, given the EFCC’s frontline role in tackling corruption and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic resources, his participation would offer valuable insights into practical strategies to dismantle the criminal networks undermining the nation’s mining sector.
Olukoyede is expected to examine the nature and dimensions of corruption in the mining sector, the links between illegal mining, organised crime and insecurity, and the economic, social and environmental consequences of resource theft.
He is also expected to outline the EFCC’s interventions against mining-related corruption and discuss the roles of citizens, trade unions, civil society organisations and local communities in promoting transparency and accountability.
The conference will bring together stakeholders from government institutions, organised labour, the private sector, civil society, academia and host communities. They will assess the implications of illegal mining for national security, environmental sustainability, decent work and climate resilience.
According to MINILS, the engagement is designed to promote citizenship and labour union participation within the framework of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The Institute expressed confidence that Olukoyede’s experience and expertise would enrich deliberations and yield actionable recommendations to combat illegal mining and promote sustainable development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Established in 1983, MINILS is Nigeria’s premier government institute dedicated to workers’ education. Named after the renowned labour leader and statesman Pa Michael Imoudu, it trains trade union leaders, employers and government officials in industrial relations, labour law, mediation and negotiation.
