The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on corps members
and youths across the country to always treat corruption as an enemy to
be destroyed because it is at the root of all developmental challenges
confronting the nation.
He gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday, January
30, 2025 while addressing corps members of Batch C Stream 11, at the National
Youths Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp, Kubwa
According to him, "every challenge around us
today can be traced to the consequences of corruption, with the rising troubles
of unemployment, insecurity, poverty, diseases, low life expectancy, hunger,
robbery, kidnapping and others caused largely by past mismanagement,
misapplication of resources by those entrusted with them"
The EFCC’s boss, who spoke through Deputy
Superintendent of the EFCC, DSE Sani Emmanuel emphasized the need for youths to
have a new perspective by treating corruption as an enemy to be
destroyed. He further tasked them to be inventive and focused on self-
development to overcome every threat to their future aspirations.
At the the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu,
Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Olukoyede, spoke through
Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Abosede Samuel Gadzama on “Roles of
Youths in Fighting Corruption to Promote Economic Growth”, charged youths to
embrace hard work and shun crime, adding that the implications of internet
fraud and other forms of economic and financial crimes are capable of deterring
foreign direct investments and exposing the nation to unnecessary challenges
and vulnerabilities.
“There is no shortcut to wealth and fame. The
fact that the rate of unemployment is high, should not be an excuse to resort
to crime. Acts of criminality might deliver wealth in the short term but
ultimately, there will be misery and gnashing of teeth. We are calling on
youths to embrace hard work and shun crime. Yahoo-yahoo is not a sustainable
way of life”, he said.
At the NYSC permanent orientation camp in
Wammako; Sokoto State, the EFCC's boss spoke through
ACE II Kamilu Ibrahim Gebi and urged corpers to
be change agents, active foot soldiers, community advocates and whistle blowers
on behalf of the EFCC.
He specifically charged them to play active
roles in their Community Development Service, CDS, groups and impact their
places of primary assignments positively. " The NYSC is an
opportunity for national service. Use it to prove yourself as a reform-
minded Nigerian", he said.
Olukoyede spoke in a similar vein at the NYSC
Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, and
other Orientation camps in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos state; Kaduna;
Iseyin, Oyo State; Kaiama, Bayelsa state;
Nounwa, Rivers State, Kano and other camps across the country.