The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has charged Nigerian trainees to see themselves as crucial stakeholders in the country’s future by accepting stability and actively taking part in the battle against corruption.
Olukoyede provided the charge on Thursday during a study visit by students of Fairview Academy to the home office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Jabi, Abuja.
Represented by the Head of the Enlightenment and Re-orientation System of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Aisha Mohammad, the anti-graft agency boss prompted the trainees to become ambassadors of stability and anti-corruption advocates in their schools, homes and communities.
Resolving the trainees, Olukoyede worried that the younger generation stayed the greatest hope for Nigeria’s future and must uphold moral worths capable of rearranging the nation for sustainable development.
“You are stakeholders in the future of this nation. Just as your moms and dads sacrifice to protect your future, Nigeria is also buying you because you are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He further motivated the trainees to function as “infantryman” and whistle-blowers for the EFCC, insisting that the Commission might not win the anti-corruption war without the active support of Nigerians, specifically youths.
“The EFCC can not battle corruption alone. We require youths like you to stand up for stability, reject wrongdoing and speak up against corruption wherever you see it,” he specified.
Olukoyede likewise cautioned the trainees versus all kinds of criminality, including assessment malpractice, cybercrime, web scams and other unethical activities capable of jeopardising their future.
As part of the sensitisation programme, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, Abdulhameed Wodi of the Cybercrime Section, informed the students on the dangers and repercussions of cybercrime.
Wodi described cybercrime as unlawful activities performed through digital platforms and electronic gadgets, cautioning that the growing hazard poses major risks to national security and economic advancement.
According to him, common cyber-related crimes include romance rip-offs, identity theft, impersonation, hacking, phishing, phony news and online fraud targeted at unwary victims.
He explained that many young people are lured into cybercrime since of ignorance, peer pressure and the desire for fast wealth, warning that such actions typically bring in extreme legal and social repercussions.
Wodi advised the students to embrace safe online practices by avoiding suspicious links, making it possible for two-factor authentication on their devices and social networks accounts, validating information before sharing online and working out caution when interacting with complete strangers on the internet.
“Do not click on suspicious links. Confirm information before sharing it online. Take care with unknown sites and friend requests. Your digital activities can stay online completely and might impact your future profession and track record,” he alerted.
He advised the students to maintain stability in the digital space and become accountable users of communication gadgets.
In his remarks, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Gbenga Akinwande, explained that the Knowledge and Re-orientation System of the Commission was developed to avoid criminal activities through public sensitisation and value reorientation.
According to him, crime prevention stays more effective and cheaper than investigation and prosecution.
“It is less expensive and easier to prevent criminal offense than to investigate and prosecute it. That is why the EFCC is investing greatly in knowledge and reorientation, especially amongst youths,” he said.
Akinwande further revealed that the system frequently performs awareness campaigns and instructional programmes in schools and communities on cybercrime, web fraud, money laundering and corruption.
He included that the Commission likewise establishes Integrity Clubs in schools as platforms for raising ethically upright young Nigerians dedicated to sincerity, transparency and accountability.
The EFCC authorities advised the trainees to end up being favorable impacts among their peers and extend the anti-corruption project beyond the classroom into their homes and neighborhoods.