The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged closer collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions to curb economic crimes and entrench integrity among students.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman, made the commitment in Abuja when Jerry Ugokwe, Chairman of the Presidential Committee, led members of his team on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters.
Olukoyede, represented by Ibrahim Shazali, Director of Fraud Risks Assessment and Control (FRAC), stressed that the Commission would continue to invest in preventive measures to instill the right values in young Nigerians.
“The campaign against social vices is something the EFCC started from inception. We established Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools, and Zero Tolerance Clubs in tertiary institutions to encourage students to embrace positive values and shun corruption,” Shazali said.
He explained that the Commission’s preventive strategies, such as sensitisation and re-orientation were cost-effective and aligned with its mandate.
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“The menace of drug abuse, cybercrime, alcoholism, cultism, and other vices in schools can trigger anti-social behaviours like corruption. We are very ready to collaborate with your committee and provide all necessary support,” he added.
Ugokwe, in his remarks, said the Committee’s mission was to “design, coordinate and implement a comprehensive national campaign against social vices in Nigerian secondary schools and tertiary institutions.”
He identified the four pillars of its work as awareness and sensitisation, capacity building and training, policy advocacy, as well as collaboration and enforcement support.
Ugokwe stressed that building the right values among young people was critical to sustaining the fight against corruption.
He proposed joint campus sensitisation campaigns, anti-corruption clubs, annual essay competitions, capacity building and media engagements as practical ways to consolidate progress.
