Olukoyede Charges Students to Confront Corruption as Threat to Development

Olukoyede Charges Students to Confront Corruption as Threat to Development

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has described corruption as a major threat to national development and urged students across the country to fight it with unwavering determination.

He gave the charge in Abuja on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at the launch of Integrity Club in eleven schools.

Represented by the Director, Public Affairs Department of the Commission, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, the Chairman emphasized that the fight against economic and financial crimes required collective efforts.

“The task of fighting economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption is all-embracing. Corruption is a threat to our development as a nation, and it must be fought with all our might. This is the reason the EFCC is engaging every stakeholder to be actively involved in the fight,” he said.

He explained that the Integrity Clubs were established to provide platforms for interaction, enlightenment, and character-building among students and for fostering the values of honesty, integrity, courage, and diligence.

“We believe that children at the primary and secondary levels of education are trainable and receptive to instructions. They can be guided into embracing higher values of life. Their outlook on life can be shaped by the right value system, which membership in Integrity Clubs would surely offer them. Our children can only become the leaders we desire if we equip, mentor, guide, and guard them rightly. This is the basis of forming the club in our schools,” he said.

Olukoyede also stressed the need for individual commitment in the fight against corruption, noting that beyond institutional measures, personal resistance to corrupt practices remains crucial.

“While we busy ourselves with building structures of Integrity Clubs in our schools, there is no better modality of fighting graft than individual resistance to it. We must all resolve to be solutions rather than problems to be solved. Without such a decision, the best of our efforts may not yield any fruitful result,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board, FCT-UBEB, Dr. Alhassan Sule, commended Olukoyede for his remarkable achievements within the short period he has been in EFCC’s leadership. He lauded the initiative of launching Integrity Clubs in secondary schools as a proactive strategy to inculcate ethical values in children from a young age.

“They say prevention is better than cure. I congratulate the Executive Chairman for launching Integrity Clubs in our schools. I believe this will go a long way in shaping young minds to resist corrupt tendencies and make our nation great. We will do everything possible to ensure the success of this initiative,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head of the EFCC’s Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1Aisha Mohammed, underscored the importance of engaging children in the anti-corruption campaign. She noted that young people are key stakeholders in the fight against corruption as they represent the future of the nation.

“Young people need to understand that there is honour in hard work. Say no to exam malpractice, no to internet fraud, no to lying, and other forms of dishonesty. Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching,” she said. She encouraged the students to serve as ambassadors of integrity by spreading anti-corruption messages within their communities.

Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, the Mother of the FCT Head-to-Head Debate, also commended the EFCC and UBEB for their commitment in promoting ethical values among young people. She emphasized that the establishment of Integrity Clubs highlights the determination of both organizations to safeguard the nation’s future by nurturing a generation that values honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct.

“In a world where challenges to integrity are prevalent, it is essential that we equip our young minds with the skills and knowledge to navigate these waters. This initiative will not only enhance their understanding of ethical principles but also empower them to become advocates for good governance and responsible citizenship,” she said.

The eleven schools the EFCC inducted into the Integrity Club are: Junior Secondary School, JSS Dutse 2, JSS Kubwa 1, JSS Mpape, JSS Karu, JSS Bwari Central, JSS Kubwa 3 and JSS Area 1. Others are: JSS Area 10, JSS Jikwoyi 1, JSS Area 11, and JSS, Narai, Karu.

The launch of the Integrity Club in secondary schools is part of the EFCC’s broader strategy to instill anti-corruption values in young Nigerians and foster a culture of integrity, essential for national development in them.