The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called on Nigerian youths to join hands in the fight against corruption.
The Executive Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyode, made the appeal during a town hall meeting in Kano on Thursday.
The event was organized by the EFCC to mark the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day.
Represented by the commission’s Zonal Director, Ibrahim Shazali, Mr. Olukoyode emphasized the importance of collective action, stating that one way to combat corruption is to “lend support and voices to the activities of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC.”
“Progress-inclined youths should be more vibrant in identifying with the activities of the Commission,” he said.
He stated that the EFCC has established structures to actively engage with youths.
“At the primary and secondary school levels, we have the Integrity Club serving as a rallying point for students. At the tertiary institution level, we have the Zero Tolerance Club. They are all platforms for engagement against corrupt practices,” the executive chairman said.
He emphasized that youths could also take a stand against corruption by exposing behaviors and actions that undermine accountability and ethical values in their communities.
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“This is essentially a whistleblowing opportunity for youths,” he said. “Corruption cannot be tackled if we allow it to thrive unchallenged in our surroundings.”
The town hall event included goodwill messages from Civil Society Organizations, officials and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (Kano State Council), and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
These messages highlighted the shortcomings in the ongoing fight against corruption and offered recommendations for addressing them.
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