The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on youths across the country to use their creative abilities, more than ever before, to stimulate economic growth and development of the country.
He gave the charge on Thursday, November 16, 2023, while addressing corps members of Batch C, Stream One at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
According to him, youths should begin to look inward and come up with ideas, perspectives and drives that could grow the economy. “By taking up the challenge of fighting corrupt practices, there will be an appreciable growth in the nation’s economy. Investor’s confidence in the economy will be enhanced; disruptions in the productive processes will be broken; competition for industrial engagements will greatly increase and the creative energies of youths will be maximized”, he said.
The EFCC’s boss, who spoke through Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, DSE Titilola Tokan-Lawal, cautioned youths against desperate pursuit of material wealth, pointing out that such a tendency could worsen the menace of corruption. At the NYSC orientation camp in Kubwa, Abuja, Olukoyede, represented by Superintendent Of EFCC, SE Ogechi Catherine Okeke, urged youths to channel their productive energy to more socially- beneficial engagements by becoming community advocates, strong resisting forces against corruption, change agents, active foot soldiers against corruption as well as whistleblowers or intelligence-gatherers.
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In Kano, Olukayode, spoke through the Head of Public Affairs of the Kano Command of the Commission, Idris Isiyaku, and called for the strengthening of the whistle blower initiative in order to achieve more vibrant economic growth and successful anti -corruption war.
‘’For us to successfully employ the anti- corruption fight to promote economic growth, it is important to enliven and strengthen the whistle blowing initiative. Let whistle blowing become a crusade and mass commitment”, he said.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, the EFCC’s czar, speaking through the Head of Public Affairs Department, Ibadan Zonal Command, DSE Egbodofo Olumide at the NYSC orientation camp, Iseyin, pointed out that both the elites and youths are responsible for corruption in the country and concerted efforts should be made to mobilize them into the anti-corruption war.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Olukoyede spoke through the Acting Head, Public Affairs Department of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the EFCC, Inspector of the EFCC 1, Ogar Sunday, and urged youths to stay away from every act that fails any integrity test. He stressed that those who took short cuts are always cut short. He threw challenges of new orientation at youths in other locations in Kaduna, Makurdi, Uyo, Keffi, Ilorin, Maiduguri, Benin-City, insisting that there are good alternatives to corruption. “Youths need to know that there are good alternatives to corruption and these are, positive self-drives, commitment to enterprise and entrepreneurship, creativity and development-focused thinking”.