The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, across the country to show public resentment against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, in order to put the nation on a sustainable path of development.
He gave this charge on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, while addressing the 2024 Batch ‘A’, Stream 2 Corps members.
Speaking on the “Roles of Youth in Fighting Corruption to Promote Economic Growth”, Olukoyede said “every challenge around us today can be traced to the consequences of corruption. The rising troubles of unemployment, insecurity, poverty, diseases, low life expectancy, hunger, robbery, kidnapping and others are the results of mismanagement, misapplication and misplacement of our resources by those entrusted with them. We have come to a situation of dire straits in our lives, all because of the menace of corruption”.
The EFCC’s boss, who spoke through Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Onjefu Obe, pointed out that, economic and financial crimes directly put the fortunes of the economy and polity of the nation in jeopardy. He noted that criminality of such a dimension puts foreign direct investment in uncertainty, slows down genuine efforts to build formidable structures in industries and greatly throws open the nation to avoidable complications.
While calling on the corps members to shun internet fraud, the anti-graft czar charged them on investing their time in bringing up creative ideas and drives that can grow the economy, as many youths are getting embroiled in activities and tendencies that portend grave dangers for their future. “The scourge of internet fraud has become a pervasive trouble in the land. Youths are getting embroiled in all sorts of cybercrime to the detriment of their future and the image of our nation. This is one undesirable situation that calls for concern. My message to you this morning is, begin to look inward and challenge your creative abilities to bring up ideas, perspectives and drives that can grow the economy”, he said.
In Yenogoa, at the NYSC Camp in Boro Town, Kiama, Bayelsa State, Olukoyede tasked corps members to embrace a paradigm shift that emphasises development and hatred for internet crimes. Speaking through the Inspector of the EFCC, IE1 Otagada Sunday Ogar, he stated that “a paradigm shift to developmental initiatives has come, let every youth embrace it. One critical group of stakeholders are the youths. Apart from the fact that youths are considered as the leaders of tomorrow, most economic crimes especially cybercrimes are committed by the youths. The trend should no longer continue”
At the NYSC orientation camp in Kaduna, Olukoyede spoke through the Kaduna Zonal Director, Dr Benedict Ubi, and enjoined corps members to be community advocates, whistleblowers who never hesitate to speak out against injustice.
Olukoyede also spoke through Superintendent of the EFCC, SE Catherine Okeke at the Kubwa Orientation Camp, Abuja. He called on corps members to offer strong resistance against corruption and be intelligence-gatherers.
In Ilorin, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, the EFCC’s boss drew attention to the Commission’s corruption reporting device. The application, the Eagle Eye App is a digital means of conveying information to the EFCC without necessarily disclosing any identity. “Only ensure that the information supplied to the EFCC is true and credible,” he said.
In NYSC Orientation Camp, Okada, Edo State, the EFCC boss who was represented by Williams Oseghale, warned corps members against taking shortcuts to wealth. Olukoyede also addressed corps members in Lagos, Ibadan, Sokoto, Makurdi, Uyo, Maiduguri, Keffi and other locations across the country against the menace of corruption and the need to build corporate synergy against it.