The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), FCT Chapter, has sought the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in its debate programme, code-named, “Head to Head,” which aims at inculcating good morals in secondary schools students.
The request was made in Abuja on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, when UBEC’s FCT Director of Quality Assurance, Dr. Emmanuel Shuaibu led a team of management staff on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.
Speaking on behalf of UBEC’s FCT’s Executive Chairman/Board Secretary, Alhassan Sule, Shuaibu disclosed that the purpose of the debate was to address the out-of-school syndrome by children of school age in the country and to redirect the minds of children and youths on the path of good morals towards a better society.
“We have discovered that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of our society, and the campaign should not start from the top, but from the grassroots, basically from basic education, because basic education incorporates primary schools, early child care, and junior secondary schools. By the time the minds of these children are fine-tuned from the beginning owing to the topics that are designed for this debate which include anti-corruption, which has been the focus of EFCC”, he said.
Olukoyede in his response appreciated the UBEC team for the visit and assured them of the willingness of the Commission to collaborate with them in this direction, noting that their request falls within the mandate of the EFCC and the new preventive policy direction of the Commission under his leadership.
“To me what is critical is the issue of prevention, which has been one of my policy objectives since I assumed office. When a corrupt act takes place, it is more difficult to use the instrumentality of enforcement to stop it because if a commission crime has taken place, you must investigate and prosecute and in most cases, you won’t even recover the money. Prosecution is also costly, so prevention is the best,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman reiterated that the commission under his leadership has prioritized prevention and partnering with critical stakeholders, especially schools where the ills of corruption should be preached from the societal foundation.
“I believe we need to collaborate in this particular area. You will agree with me that one of the problems and challenges we are facing which has made corruption a big menace in our society is the breakdown of morals. Now, you even see secondary school children buying cars for their parents and the parents won’t ask questions. It is as bad as that. That is why this collaboration is important and to look into the area of reviewing the curriculum of schools,” he said.
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