The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged Nigerian students to stay away from cybercrime and other forms of financial crimes, stressing that the nation’s future depends on the choices young people make today.
Olukoyede gave the charge during a study visit by students of Regent Secondary School, Abuja, to the EFCC headquarters on Tuesday.
Representing the EFCC Chairman, the Head of EFCC Radio and Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Nwanyinma Okeanu, described the visit as part of the Commission’s efforts to educate young people about the dangers of corruption and financial crimes.
She told the students that their decision to visit the Commission reflected a positive step toward building responsible futures.
“Your future begins with the choices you make today. By choosing to visit the EFCC, you have taken a positive step towards becoming responsible citizens,” she said.
Okeanu explained that the EFCC was established to restore Nigeria’s integrity by tackling corruption, economic and financial crimes, adding that the Commission remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.
She also warned that the growing involvement of young people in cybercrime poses a serious threat to national development.
During a lecture titled Ills of Cybercrime, an officer of the EFCC’s Cybercrime Unit, Eniola Kayode, educated the students on the causes, consequences and legal implications of internet fraud and other cyber-related offences.
Kayode cautioned that although cybercrime may appear to provide quick financial rewards, it ultimately destroys lives, damages reputations and limits future opportunities.
She encouraged the students to embrace productive digital skills by using the internet for education, programming, innovation, online businesses and other legitimate ventures.
Also speaking, the Head of Enlightenment and Reorientation, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Aisha Mohammed, highlighted the Commission’s mandate and urged the students to serve as ambassadors of integrity.
“You have to be good ambassadors. You have to contribute your quota, and your voices matter,” she said.
In his remarks, the Humanities Trip Coordinator of Regent Secondary School, Jatau Shadrach Solomon, thanked the EFCC for the opportunity, saying the visit had broadened the students’ understanding of anti-corruption efforts and financial responsibility.
At the end of the visit, two students, Aisha Ismail and Dubem Moghalu, were decorated as EFCC Ambassadors in recognition of their commitment to promoting integrity among their peers.
