T
he Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has bagged the Nigeria Patriotic Youth against Corruption & Transparency Initiative, NPYACTI’s, prestigious Award for Integrity and the Ambassador of the organisation.
He was honoured recently at an award ceremony held at the EFCC’s Corporate Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
The NPYACTI, which bestowed the award on the EFCC Chairman, said the award was in recognition of his excellent service to the nation and his visionary leadership in the empowerment of youths of Nigeria.
During the presentation of the award, Ambassador Emmanuel Dapeh, coordinator of the organization, described Olukoyede as an indisputable embodiment of good leadership whose personality is a platform upon which Nigeria’s vision can be realised.
“We are not ignorant of the unblemished records and antecedents of Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, a man who has been so friendly and has empowered the youths, because he found solace in them. Your unadulterated values of humility, hard work, integrity and above all, patriotism have been our sources of motivation and moral upbringing and rectitude,” he said.
Dapeh pledges the Association’s unalloyed and unwavering support and collaboration with the EFCC Chairman, adding that the relationship between the organisation and the EFCC will continue to be robust until the Commission achieves its mandate of eradicating corruption, economic and financial crimes.
“We are glad today to inform you that after much deliberation by the congress of Nigerian Patriotic Youth Against Corruption and Transparency Initiative, we have ratified your person for the NPYACTI Integrity/Ambassadorial Award 2025, in recognition of your contribution to the fight against corruption, financial crimes and astute participation in good governance”, he said.
Receiving the award on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Assistant Commander of the EFCC and the Head, Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the EFCC, ACE II, Aisha Muhammed, appreciated NPYACTI for finding the EFCC Chairman worthy of the award.
According to her, Olukoyede is patriotic about his assignment, making sure that the future of Nigerian youths is protected and safe through fighting corruption and financial crimes.
She said one of the mandates of the EFCC is prevention, adding that the Commission will explore all avenues to actively utilise the preventive mandate.
“Thank you for finding the Chairman worthy, thank you for watching out for what EFCC is doing. The Chairman’s concern now is mainly on prevention. If you are watching the activities of the EFCC, you will notice that the EFCC is doing a lot on prevention and one of the key stakeholders in the fight against corruption is the youth and that is why the EFCC has concentrated on school children and the youths for two reasons; because they are the future of the country and they are the ones shaping the country.
“I hope that the younger ones coming up will be the ones to steer this position. So, the better way to go about it is to catch them young. So, you are in the right place because I noticed that your programmes have to do with children and youth
“The EFCC has Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools, and we have the Zero Tolerance Clubs in tertiary institutions. The EFCC did this because we are trying to catch them young; it is not all about arrest that the EFCC does; we do a lot of prevention, and that is why we have the Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit.
“You know, people have this notion that EFCC arrests people, no, before the EFCC even arrests you, we would have done a lot of sensitisation, we tell you what corruption is all about, we tell you if you commit crime and corruption, there are consequences of your actions. So we talk and sensitise people before arrest and prosecution”, she said.
She stated that the EFCC is willing and ready to collaborate with the organization to ensure that the youths are trained to live a transparent and integrity life, assuring them of relevant tools that will assist them in their outreach as they try to help the Commission rid the country of corruption, economic and financial crimes.
“So, you are actually at the right place because we do a lot with children and youths, and I assure you, even though the Chairman is not here, the EFCC is going to support you. We could have our resource persons come speak with you; we could have our IEC materials and publications.” She said Olukoyede Bags Integrity and Ambassadorial Award
