The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has called on members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to be foot soldiers in the war against economic and financial crimes, in order to free the nation from the shackles of corruption and set it on the path of sustainable development.
He gave the charge on Thursday, November 17, 2022 in a lecture entitled “EFCC And The Role of Youth in Curbing Corruption” for members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, 2022 Batch ‘C’ Stream 1,
Speaking at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Bawa, whose sensitisation lecture was delivered by an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Ayodele Babatunde, Head, Public Affairs Department of the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Commission admonished the corps members to align themselves with the anti-corruption war by being change agents, good campaigners against corruption and by publicly owning the crusade.
At the Lagos NYSC Orientation Camp, the EFCC boss who was represented by Ayo Oyewole, Head, Public Affairs Department, Lagos Zonal Command, said: “The message of the EFCC to you all this morning is that you should become whistle blowers in any place where you find yourself by reporting acts that fail the simple rest of integrity.”
Bawa, who described the youth as catalysts to the fight against corruption, also urged them to become role models by shunning all acts of corruption and economic crimes.
“The fact that the rate of unemployment is high should not be an excuse to resort to crimes. There is no short cut to wealth and fame. Acts of criminality might deliver wealth in the short term; but ultimately, there will be misery and gnashing of teeth.
“We are calling on the youth to embrace hard work and shun crimes. “Yahoo-Yahoo” is not a sustainable way of life.”
In Kaduna, Assistant Superintendent of EFCC, Derekumor E. Claude and Prince Okorie who delivered the Executive Chairman’s message, reminded corps members that “success in the fight against Economic and Financial Crimes including corruption can only be achieved when all critical stakeholders especially the youths embrace the fight”.
They warned the youths to shun cybercrime and be wary of unscrupulous individuals who lure unsuspecting victims with fake employment offers and defraud them of their hard earned monies.
At the NYSC Orientation Camp, Wannune, Tarka LGA, Benue State Bawa, who was represented by Adeniran Adebayo, Head, Public Affairs Department, Makurdi Zonal Command, urged the youths to embrace hard work as there is no shortcut to wealth and fame.
In Kano, Idris Isiyaku, Head of Public Affairs of Kano Command of the Commission, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kusalla Dam, Karaye Local Government Kano, encouraged the corps member to resist the pressure of unemployment and avoid resorting to internet fraud.
Similar messages were presented to corps members in other states of the federation.
