Olukoyede Urges Nigerian Youths to Embrace Cyber Values Over Cybercrimes
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on Nigerian youths to abandon cybercrimes and instead channel their energy into creating value through the internet.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, during the FCT Next Generation Engagement Forum, Olukoyede emphasized the potential of value creation as a transformative alternative to cybercrimes. Represented by ACE II Aisha Muhammed, Head of the Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the EFCC, he highlighted the financial and reputational damage caused by internet fraud, which cost Nigeria an estimated $500 million in 2022.
“I want to see a generation that will lead a new fight against corruption through value creation. If we have youths heating up the polity by their criminality, we should also have youths challenging them by their integrity. Let us eliminate cybercrimes through cyber values,” Olukoyede stated.
He urged Nigerian youths to adopt a “Can-Do-It Philosophy,” emphasizing self-belief, integrity, and a focus on wealth creation through talent and innovation. “Follow models that have positively impacted the world. Cultivate friendships with peers who have good vision. Use the internet to develop your dreams and avoid the lure of easy wealth,” he added.
Olukoyede also encouraged students to join the EFCC’s Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools or Zero Tolerance Clubs in tertiary institutions, which promote value-driven initiatives. He invited young Nigerians to embrace the EFCC’s Next Generation Project as a personal mission to champion integrity and innovation.
Leaders Call for Youth Empowerment and Leadership
Rinsola Abiola, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, lauded the forum’s objectives, emphasizing mentorship and leadership development for young Nigerians. “Our young people are the future of this country. We must nurture their potential and guide them to become model citizens who positively impact their communities and grow with the right values,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs. Agbanusi Ijeoma, representing the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) FCT Directorate, called for greater inclusion of youths in leadership roles. She noted, “Youths, as the leaders of tomorrow, should always be given the driver’s seat in leadership. They are the agents of the change and transformation Nigerians have been yearning for.”
The event concluded with a shared vision to inspire Nigerian youths to embrace integrity, leadership, and innovation, positioning them as the catalysts for national transformation.
