EFCC, ICPC Inaugurate Integrity Clubs in Schools

EFCC, ICPC Inaugurate Integrity Clubs in Schools

The South-East Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC has set up Anti-Corruption and Integrity Clubs in three secondary schools across Enugu State.

The Integrity Clubs were set up in October as part of the sensitization and enlightenment activities of the anti-corruption agencies and is an ongoing exercise aimed at using the National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC, Community Development Services to reach out to young Nigerians whose future are being mortgaged by corruption in every segment of the nation.
The three schools are: Community Secondary Schools, Umueze and Obuoffia both in Awkunanaw, Nkanu West, and Federal Government College, Enugu
While speaking at the Federal Government College, Enugu, EFCC the Head of Public Affairs, South East Zone of the EFCC, Chris Oluka, told the students that economic and financial crimes are the bane of all the problems bedevilling the country.

He said: “Economic crimes sabotage and target the resources of the country while financial crimes are the ones involving the illegal usage of cash or financial instruments which can also take the form of obtaining by false pretences popularly called 419 according to the Criminal Code of the country.”

He described ‘419’ as a situation “where you pretend to be who you are not or using instruments, documents or telephone, social media and internet to deceive people into thinking you are who you are not, so that they can release their money into believing you.”

He further urged them to see themselves as the future of the country and leaders of tomorrow.

Speaking at the occasion, the Education Officer of ICPC, Uzi Agualize Eyimeke, thanked management of the schools for accepting to inaugurate the club in their schools as he said many school principals are yet to appreciate the need to set up the clubs in their schools.

“The purpose of setting up the club was to inculcate the tenet of integrity in the students knowing that without it, no one can fight corruption,” he said.

The Enugu North NYSC Inspector, Maduforo Chinedu, also said the need to start campaign against corruption from students and young ones cannot be overemphasised so that they will be better be prepared before assuming responsible positions.

While thanking the NYSC, EFCC and ICPC for organising the event, the Vice Principal of the School, (Academics) Mrs. Ijeh said it was very instructive and encouraging that the initiative was starting from the foundation knowing that the age bracket of the students remain the most vulnerable to corruption attacks.

She enjoined the students to eschew corruption which should not be seen as being only perpetrated by politicians and government officials but see all the vices committed by them as part of corruption.

Speaking on behalf of the students and his fellow executives, the President of the Club said that said that everyone must shun corruption as a condition for things to be better and that doing so attracts goodness to a person.

The occasion was rounded off with the swearing in of officials of the club by Oluka and Eyimeke of the EFCC and ICPC, respectively.