The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reaffirmed its commitment to grooming a new generation of Nigerians anchored on integrity, discipline and accountability.

This message was delivered on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Nobel Enterprise and Technology School, Fate-Tanke, Ilorin, where the Commission addressed pupils during the school's Career Day programme.

Speaking on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Ayodele Babatunde, Head, Public Affairs Department of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate, whose lecture was titled "Integrity Pays, Corruption Kills Dreams!" described integrity as the most valuable asset any individual can possess and warned that corruption not only destroys national development but also ruins individual destinies.

"A young person who cheats, lies, or steals may think they are smart, but the truth is, they are killing their own dreams," he told the pupils.

He urged the pupils to uphold honesty in their studies and daily lives, emphasizing that little acts of cheating in exams or cutting corners are early signs of corruption.

"Corruption doesn't start in public office. It starts with the little compromises such as copying during exams, lying to parents, falsifying results, or refusing to do what is right. When you keep repeating these acts, they grow into bigger problems in the future," Babatunde said.

He admonished the pupils to always choose honesty over shortcuts and resist any pressure to engage in wrongdoing, reminding them that integrity is the foundation of every great nation.

Babatunde used the platform to urge parents and teachers to take more active roles in mentoring children, noting that young minds are shaped by what they see and hear at home and in school.

"Every child is a reflection of the society that raised them. Parents must stop glorifying fraudsters or celebrating ill-gotten wealth. Teachers must reward hard work and discipline, and collectively we must uphold values of honesty, contentment, and patriotism," he said.

The colourful event featured a parade of students dressed in various professional uniforms, including EFCC operatives, with many expressing interest in joining the anti-graft agency in the future. The event climaxed with an inspiring chant of the EFCC slogan: "Integrity Pays, Corruption Kills Dreams!"; a strong reminder that the fight against corruption must begin with the young and be driven by all.