The Ilorin Zonal Office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 intensified its efforts aimed at enlisting the support of youth across the zone in its anti-graft campaign with a visit to the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State.
The Head, Public Affairs Department of the Zone, Ayodele Babatunde, while making a presentation on behalf of the Zonal Head,EFCC, Ilorin, Usman Muktar, at the 2021 Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Orientation Lecture of the School, admonished youths to shun all forms of corruption including cybercrime.
“The EFCC values the fertile minds of the Nigerian youths and will continue to ensure that we galvanize this critical component of the country in our anti-corruption crusade. We view the youth as the future anti-corruption warriors that will carry on the fight against corruption”, Muktar said.
He urged Nigerian youth to take more than a passing interest in the affairs of their country, urging them to live above board and be willing to hold their leaders accountable. He also urged the students to become whistle blowers “by reporting acts that fail the simple test of integrity.”
“When you see something, say something; and don’t stop there, please do something”, he added.
While decrying the rate at which youth get involved in cybercrime, among other vices Muktar said, “Yahoo-Yahoo is not a sustainable way of life”, lamenting that, “It is painful when our (EFCC) operatives arrest as much as 50 Yahoo-Yahoo boys in a single raid.
He called on youth to embrace the spirit of hard work and integrity saying, “the fact that the rate of unemployment is high should not be an excuse to resort to crime” adding that, “acts of criminality may deliver wealth in the short run, but ultimately there will be misery and gnashing of teeth”.
The EFCC boss enjoined the students to join the EFCC Integrity Club noting that the platform offers the opportunity for an enduring relationship with the Commission and other stakeholders.
Earlier, the Director of Industrial Liaison and Placement, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Prince Nurudeen Olanipekun, on behalf of the management and staff of the school expressed appreciation to the EFCC and pledged more collaboration.