The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu today, March 17, 2020 charged Nigerian Youths to take the front row in the efforts to fight and eliminate corrupt activities in Nigeria. The EFCC boss who gave the charge in an Orientation Lecture for Corps members at the National Youth Service Corps Camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of  Rivers State, urged the youths to take more than passing interest in the affairs of their country by holding their leaders to account.

In his words, “Let me reiterate that the future of this country belongs to the youth. The decision you make today will determine the type of society your children will live in. The destiny of generations yet unborn are in your hands; please do not waste this moment. Join us and together we can make Nigeria great again”.

The EFCC helmsman, who was represented by Mr. Wilson Uwujaren of the Public Affairs Department, noted the negative impact of corruption on Nigeria’s developmental efforts and charged the Corps Members to be whistle blowers in their places of primary assignment.

“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 test of integrity. It is no use lamenting that things are not right with our country. We are inviting you to lend a hand in helping us build a society where there is respect for law and order and where impunity is a thing of the past.

We urge you, when you see something, to say something; and don’t stop there, please do something!”

Magu also urged the Corps members to strive to be change agents by mentoring the younger generation in primary and secondary schools through membership of the EFCC /NYSC CD Group. “It is a platform that offers you the opportunity for an enduring relationship with the Commission and other stakeholders. It will also avail you the opportunity to work with the advocacy arm of the Commission and be in a position to serve as change agents by helping to mould kids in schools across the nation through the Integrity Clubs established in such schools with the help of the EFCC”, he said.

Magu recalls that the Commission was established about 17 years ago with a clear mandate to fight corruption in both the public and private sectors. He declared that over the years the Commission has recorded significant milestones in the enforcement of all economic and financial crimes laws. This, he noted, is evident in significant convictions record and the recovery of assets running into several billions of Dollars.

He however observed that in spite of these achievements. the Commission is not under any illusion that it can win the fight against corruption without the buy in of all stakeholders, especially the youths.

He charged the youths to shun acts of criminality and embrace hard work as the veritable route to sustainable wealth. “Acts of criminality might deliver wealth in the short run but ultimately there will be misery and gnashing of teeth. We are calling on youth to embrace hard work and stay away from crime. Yahoo-Yahoo is not a sustainable way of life,” he said.
Similar messages were presented to Corps Members at the Orientation Camps in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State by Sunday Eze, a Principal Detective Superintendent  and Kaiama Grammar School, Kaiama in Kolokoma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by Akpos Ekisowei, Deputy Detective Superintendent.




Media & Publicity

March 17, 2020