EFCC charges institutions on counselling students against internet fraud

Mr Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has urged heads of tertiary institutions across the country to counsel their students against internet fraud.

He made the appeal on Monday at the commission’s Zonal Command Office in Ilorin during an interactive session with Kogi tertiary institution heads.

Olukoyede, who was represented by the Ilorin Zonal Commander, Mr Michael Nzekwe, urged tertiary institutions to work with the commission to combat the rising tide of internet fraud among students.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the engagement is a follow-up to a meeting held earlier on May 4, as part of the command’s proactive measures to combat cybercrime in Kwara.

He advised tertiary institution administrators to put in place measures to discourage students from engaging in criminal activity.

“Parents should also be more committed to their children’s moral upbringing, both in school and at home, to support the prevention agenda.”

“The commission can achieve the task of ridding the country of corruption if every institution gets involved and actively participate in the fight against the menace,” the chairman said.

He also charged educational institutions with changing the negative narratives about education quality in Nigeria.
According to him, a corruption-free Nigeria is possible if everyone gets involved in the fight against corruption proactively and sincerely.

Prof. Salawu Sadiku, Vice Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, responded by applauding the EFCC initiative.

Sadiku urged the commission to include anti-corruption courses in the school curriculum and to teach them at all levels.

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“Today’s youth are exposed to a number of vices that have the potential to permanently ruin their lives.”

“We need to do more for students to focus on their studies and desist from all forms of cybercrimes,” he told the audience.

Similarly, Dr Salisu Usman, Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, and Dr Umar Hassan, Provost of College of Education, Okene, stressed the importance of instituting anti-corruption watchdogs to combat cybercrime on campuses.

Dr Yahaya Usman, Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Idah, and Mrs Victoria Jagboro, Provost of College of Education (Technical), Kabba, urged the EFCC to strengthen its intelligence gathering mechanisms and guidance and counselling efforts.