The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has emphasised the need for young people to close ranks and confront the monster of corruption, noting that the menace affects all age groups but bites harder against the prospects and possibilities of youths.
The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, stated this at a town hall meeting organised by the EFCC in commemoration of the 2024 World Anti-Corruption Day, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Olukoyede said all hands must be on deck to tackle the menace more fiercely particularly among the youths than any other age group in our society, noting that the scourge of graft limits and vitiates the opportunities of youths for self-actualisation.
“One of the dreadful effects of internet fraud is its bandwagon effects on youths. The allure of easy money is drawing young people into the vortex of criminality.
“This explains why our institutions of higher learning are struggling to make students stay away from internet fraud.
“Any young person that is tainted with cybercrime faces a grim future. There is no sustainable success in internet fraud.
“Every young person needs an equal opportunity for self-expression. However, this is impossible in societies where favoritism, nepotism, partisan and other extraneous considerations tilt opportunities in favour of some few privileged people.
“This is not good for the youths and it is for this reason that they need to forge a united front against corruption,” he said.
Noting that the future of Nigeria belong to the youths, he enjoined them to always say no to the alluring temptations of crime and align themselves with honesty and the Commission’s fight against corruption.