The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on heads of tertiary institutions across the country, to join hands with the Commission in tackling the rising tide of internet fraud among students of tertiary institutions.
He made this call on Thursday, November 2, 2023, while having an interactive session with Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of Tertiary Institutions in Kogi State, at the Ilorin Zonal Command Office in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Olukoyede who spoke through the Ilorin Zonal Commander of EFCC, ACEI Michael Nzekwe said that the engagement was in furtherance of their meeting earlier held on May 4, 2023, in Kwara State as part of the proactive measures by the Command to checkmate cybercrime in the state.
In a statement by the Head, Media & Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC boss called on authorities of tertiary institutions to put in place measures that would discourage students from indulging in crimes. He also admonished parents to be more committed to the moral upbringing of their children in schools in order to bolster the prevention agenda of his administration.
“The Commission can achieve the task of ridding the country of corruption if every institution gets involved and actively participates in the fight against the menace. Higher institutions must endeavour to change the current negative narrative regarding the quality of education in Nigeria because a corruption-free Nigeria is possible if every individual is proactively and sincerely involved in the fight against corruption”, he said.
Deliberations were also made on the causes of corruption, and its effects on students and society, including preventive measures to adopt in curbing corrupt practices in tertiary institutions.
Responding, Vice Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Professor Salawu Sadiku, lauded the initiative of the EFCC urging the Commission to ensure that anti-corruption courses are incorporated into the school curriculum and taught at all levels.
“Youths of today are exposed to a number of vices that are capable of ruining their lives permanently. We need to do more for students to focus on their studies and desist from all forms of cybercrimes”, he said
Similarly, Dr. Salisu Usman, Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, and Dr. Umar Hassan, Provost, College of Education, Okene stressed the need for the introduction of anti-corruption watchdog as part of veritable measures to checkmate cybercrime on campuses.
In the same vein, Dr. Yahaya B. Usman, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Idah urged the EFCC to strengthen its intelligence gathering mechanisms in schools, calling on the authorities of schools to enter into a memorandum of understanding that will form an anti-corruption bond which will become a prerequisite for admission of students.
Also speaking, Dr. Victoria Jagboro, Provost, College of Education (Technical), Kabba highlighted the role of parents in reinforcing guidance and counselling both at home and in schools. She called for attitudinal change, especially on the part of students and parents. She concluded by urging the EFCC to liaise with regulatory bodies to develop content for anti-corruption courses in tertiary institutions.
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