By Ola Kay
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, across the country to show public resentment against economic and financial crimes and all acts of corruption, in order to put the nation on a sustainable path of development.
He stated this on Thursday, 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’, Olukayode said that, “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 as a result of mismanagement, misapplication and misplacement of 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”.
Represented by the Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Onjefu Obe, Olukayode pointed out that, economic and financial crimes directly put the fortunes of the economy and the polity in jeopardy.
He expressed displeasure that corruption as a vice was capable of putting Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, in uncertainty, and could slow down genuine efforts to build formidable structures in industries and was capable of predisposing the nation to avoidable complications.
He tasked the corps members to eschew internet fraud, but strive to invest their time and energy on developing creative ideas and drives that can grow the economy.
The EFCC boss said that, “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.”
Mr. Olukayode called on corps members in Yenogoa, at the NYSC Camp in Boro Town, Kiama, Bayelsa State and tasked them to embrace a paradigm shift that puts focus on development and hatred for internet crimes.
Speaking through the Inspector of the EFCC, IE1 Otagada Sunday Ogar 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, through the Kaduna Zonal Director, Dr Benedict Ubi, enjoined corps members to be community advocates, whistleblowers who never hesitated to speak out against injustice.
Similarly, the EFCC boss, represented by a Superintendent of the agency, SE Catherine Okeke at the Kubwa Orientation Camp, Abuja, 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, Mr. Olukayode drew attention to the Commission’s corruption reporting device- the Eagle Eye App, a digital means of conveying information to the EFCC without necessarily disclosing any identity. He said that, this “Only ensure that the information supplied to the EFCC is true and credible.”
In NYSC Orientation Camp, Okada, Edo State, the EFCC boss, represented by Mr. Williams Oseghale, warned corps members against taking shortcuts to wealth.
The anti-graft boss also took his message to corps members in Lagos, Ibadan, Sokoto, Makurdi, Uyo, Maiduguri, Keffi and other locations across the country, warning against the menace of corruption and the need to build corporate synergy against the vice.
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