The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has called on corps members across the country to embrace hard work.

He urged them to look inward and challenge their creative abilities to bring up ideas, perspectives, and drives that can grow the economy.

The EFCC chair was of the opinion that corps members would serve more useful purposes for Nigeria if their potential were positively channelled, while urging them to shun all acts of economic and financial crime, including yahoo-yahoo practices.

This admonition was contained in a lecture entitled “Roles of Youths in Curbing Economic and Financial Crimes,” delivered on his behalf on November 16, 2023, by the Head, Public Affairs Department, Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, Ayodele Babatunde, to Batch C Stream 1 corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government of Kwara State.

While acknowledging the role of the youth as key to winning the fight against corruption, the EFCC boss said, “As dynamic young men and women, our desire is to harness your intelligence and energy for greater public good in your areas of primary assignments.”

Decrying corruption and its negative consequences Olukoyede said, “The scourge of internet fraud has become a pervasive trouble in the land. Youths are getting embroiled in all sorts of cybercrime to the detriment of their future and the image of our nation. This is one undesirable situation that calls for concern.”

He urged corps members to “be a change agent by refusing to be involved, collaborate, facilitate, or perpetrate any form of economic crime. In your places of primary assignment, steer clear of criminality. This way, you can positively influence everyone around you.”

At the NYSC Orientation Camp in Asaya, Kabba, Kogi State, the EFCC chair enjoined corps members to shun corruption and be whistle-blowers by joining the league of Nigerians using the Eagle Eye App to report corrupt acts in their environments.

“As young Nigerians, you can offer whistle-blowing services to the EFCC through the Eagle Eye App. It is a digital means of conveying information to us without necessarily disclosing our identity. Only ensure that the information supplied to the EFCC is true and credible,” he said.

The EFCC boss, who was represented by Gbenga Adewoye of the Public Affairs Department, Ilorin Zonal Command, assured the corps members that “the EFCC is determined to curb corruption in all its ramifications, including 'yahoo-yahoo' and other forms of economic and financial crimes, and would spare no effort in bringing culprits to justice.”