Olakunle Maruf, Author at Tribune Online

The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede has called on youths across the country to join hands with the commission in the fight against corruption. The chairman stated this in his remarks during a town hall meeting in commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day, in Sokoto. Represented by the Zonal Director of the commission CE Nnwanneka Nwokike, the chairman said corruption affects every age group but bites harder against the prospects and possibilities of youths. "This makes it more binding on young people to tackle it more fiercely than any other age group. "The scourge of graft limits and vitiates the opportunities of youths for self-actualization. Every young person needs an equal opportunity for self expression, but this is impossible in societies where favoritism, nepotism, partisan and other extraneous considerations tilt opportunities in favor of some privileged people." The chairman further explained that corruption makes youths vulnerable to fraudulent practices, with allure of easy money drawing young people into vortex of criminality. ALSO READ: Why we built cybercrime research centre — EFCC boss "Youths need collaborative efforts for progressive innovations, this cannot be achieved in a corrupt environment. "They also need a united voice to challenge unsavory practices at every level of government, they need to come together to be watchdogs and active forces against any form of corruption, no other age will do it for them." He however suggest routes that can be taken by youths to achieve unity in the fight against corruption which includes deliberate synergy against graft, lend forces and voices in support of activities of anti-corruption agencies. Others include by exposing tendencies and actions that run counter to accountability and right values in the neighborhood as well as making a decision against corruption. He assured whistle blower of adequate protection of their identity while revealing that the zonal office has opened a complaint box where members of the public can drop their complaint in form of petition to the commission. In his remarks, the chairman of the Civil Society Organization in the state, Comerade Bello Shehu, commend the agency for always collaborating with the CSO in the state. He said the establishment of the Zonal office in the state has helped in many ways in sanitizing many sectors in the state against corrupt practices. While assuring that the CSO in the state is ready to work in synergy with the agency to fight corruption, he calls on the zonal director to organize orientation with the CSO especially as it relates with the recently autonomy granted to the local government in the state. Participants at the town hall meeting include integrity club from Shehu Shagari College of Education, Zero tolerance club from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and Shehu Shagari College of Education as well as Corp Members. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE