The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged youths across the country to channel their creative energies into productive and legitimate ventures rather than engaging in internet fraud and other corrupt practices.
Olukoyede gave the charge on Thursday, May 21, 2026, during the launch of the Integrity Club at NAOWA College School, Abuja.
Represented at the event by the Head, Public Interface Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Tony Orilade, the EFCC Chairman described internet fraud as a despicable crime with no justification.
He advised the students to “channel their creative energies into useful engagements and not into dishonest and dubious means of cheating others of their resources,” stressing that “internet crimes are economic crimes and the penalties for them are stiff.”
Olukoyede described corruption as “the compromise of rules, regulations, policies, standards and directive principles of running a system,” adding that it is also “the deliberate use of public opportunities, resources and privileges for private gains.”
He further enlightened the students on various offences under the investigative purview of the Commission, including money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, advance fee fraud, contract scam, employment scam, land and property fraud, tax fraud, internet fraud, stealing, bribery, procurement fraud and banking fraud.
Speaking on the objectives of the newly inaugurated Integrity Club, he stated that the club was established to promote openness and transparency, create awareness about the damaging effects of corruption, develop integrity and accountability among students, encourage information sharing with the EFCC, identify and confront corrupt tendencies and prepare members for future leadership responsibilities.
“Every form of internet fraud, such as romance scam, business email compromise, hacking, impersonation, forex scam and others are corrupt practices must not be found among you,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Head, Enlightenment and Re-Orientation Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC II, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, urged the students to take ownership of their future by resisting peer pressure and corrupt tendencies.
According to her, the EFCC places more emphasis on prevention through enlightenment and re-orientation as part of efforts to combat economic and financial crimes in the country.
She disclosed that the Commission operates Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools as well as Zero Tolerance Clubs in tertiary institutions, while also collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to promote integrity and ethical values.
“You have to focus, you have to go for what you want and what you want to be in the future,” she advised the students.
Mohammed further emphasized the importance of integrity in national development, reminding the students that their voices and actions matter in shaping a better society.
“You are very important, your voice matters. You must be good to your family, your community, your society, and Nigeria as a whole,” she said.
In his remarks, the Director of Administration, NAOWA College, Major F. E. Enenche, charged the students to become responsible and morally upright leaders, describing the establishment of the school’s Integrity Club as a critical step towards building a culture of transparency and accountability among young people.
He commended the EFCC for its sustained efforts in promoting integrity and ethical conduct among Nigerian youths.
In his closing remarks, the Principal of NAOWA College expressed appreciation to the EFCC and all attendees for their support and participation, noting that the inauguration of the Integrity Club marked the beginning of a new chapter for the school in promoting discipline, accountability and ethical leadership among students.