Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called on Nigerian youth to stay away from internet fraud, emphasizing that there is no sustainable success in such activities.
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day with the theme: “Uniting the Youths Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,” held in Kaduna State on Thursday, the Executive Chairman stated that corruption makes youths vulnerable to fraudulent practices in the country.
According to him, corruption affects every age group but hits harder against the prospects and possibilities of youths.
He explained that this makes it more crucial for young people to tackle it more fiercely than any other age group because the scourge of graft limits and vitiates their opportunities for self-actualization.
Represented by EFCC Kaduna Command Zonal Director, Dr Benedict Ubi said every young person needs an equal opportunity for self-expression, but this is impossible in societies where favoritism, nepotism, and partisan considerations tilt opportunities in favor of a few privileged people.
“This is not good for the youths, and it is for this reason that they need to forge a united front against corruption. Corruption makes our youths vulnerable to fraudulent practices.
“One of the dreadful effects of internet fraud is its bandwagon effect on youths. The allure of easy money draws young people into the vortex of criminality. This explains why our institutions of higher learning are struggling to keep students away from internet fraud. Any young person tainted with cybercrime faces a grim future. There is no sustainable success in internet fraud,” he said.
He also emphasized that youths need collaborative efforts for progressive innovations, adding that they cannot achieve this in a corrupt environment.
He said youths need a united voice to challenge unsavory practices at every level of government, as they must come together to be watchdogs and active forces against any form of corruption. No other age group will do this for them.
He explained that they can join hands to tackle corruption by forming associations, clubs, think tanks, and societies that promote good values, pointing out that it is high time youths joined forces to pursue values that will add strength to their lives.
Olukoyede said youths can also unite against corruption by exposing tendencies and actions that run counter to accountability and right values in their neighborhoods.
