By Isaac Aregbesola
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has urged members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and youths across the country to always treat corruption as an enemy that must be destroyed.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Mr Dele Oyewale, made this known in a statement issued yesterday.
Oyewale said Olukoyode gave the charge, while addressing corps members of Batch C Stream 11, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, FCT, Abuja, yesterday.
According to him, every challenge around us today can be traced to the consequences of corruption.
He said this include the rising troubles of unemployment, insecurity, poverty, diseases, low life expectancy, hunger, robbery, kidnapping and others caused largely by past mismanagement and misapplication of resources by those entrusted with them.
The EFCC chairman, who spoke through the Deputy Superintendent of the Commission, Sani Emmanuel, emphasised the need for youths to have a new perspective by treating corruption as an enemy to be destroyed.
He urged them to be inventive and focused on self- development to overcome every threat to their future aspirations.
In another development at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Olukoyede, who spoke on the “Roles of Youths in Fighting Corruption to Promote Economic Growth,” charged youths to embrace hard work and shun crime.
Olukoyede, who spoke through the Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Abosede Gadzama, warned against the implications of internet fraud and other forms of economic and financial crimes.
“These are capable of deterring foreign direct investments and exposing the nation to unnecessary challenges and vulnerabilities.
“There is no shortcut to wealth and fame. The fact that the rate of unemployment is high should not be an excuse to resort to crime.
“Acts of criminality might deliver wealth in the short term but ultimately, there will be misery and gnashing of teeth.
“We are calling on youths to embrace hard work and shun crime. ‘Yahoo-yahoov is not a sustainable way of life,” he said.
Also, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Wammako; Sokoto State, the EFCC boss spoke through ACE II Kamilu Ibrahim Gebi and urged corps members to be change agents, active foot soldiers, community advocates and whistle blowers on behalf of the commission.
He specifically urged them to play active roles in their Community Development Service, CDS, groups and impact their places of primary assignment positively.
“NYSC is an opportunity for national service. Use it to prove yourself as a reform- minded Nigerian,” he said.
Olukoyede spoke in a similar vein at other NYSC orientation camps nationwide. NAN
