EFCC Boss, Bawa Urges Nigerian Students to Shun Cybercrime

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has called on Nigerian students to take ownership of the fight against corruption and channel their potentials positively for the good of the country.

Bawa gave this advice on Tuesday, at the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Kogi State, while speaking as a guest at the official flag-off of campaign against social vices on campuses organised by National Association of Nigerians Students (NANS).

The EFCC boss also advised youths to serve as role models by shunning all forms of cybercrimes, urging them to embrace the virtue of hard work and contentment.

According to him, there is no shortcut to weath and fame.

The programme iwas designed to sensitise students across campuses in Nigeria on the ills of social vices and dissuade them from engaging in it.

Bawa spoke through Abbah Sambo Usman, Head, Cybercrime Section, EFCC Headquarters, Abuja, on the topic: “Involvement of Youth in Cybercrime: The New Menace”,

He decried the rate at which youths get involved in cybercrime and blamed the society for the development.

According to him, “Everybody wants to live large and big. Our society is fond of glorifying ‘the affluent and the corrupt’.

“In fact, we celebrate them. Nobody is asking question on how they come about their wealth! The moment you are rich you become a celebrity and people want to model their life after you.

“This is really sad and unfortunate! The society must stop this attitude, for our country to move forward.”

He said all hands must be on deck to defeat the menace. In specific terms, the EFCC boss urged the students to shun ostentatious and flamboyant lifestyle.

While reiterating the determination of the EFCC not to give up in the fight against corruption and cybercrime he warned that, “There are laws that forbade cybercrime.

“The government have enacted several laws and backed it up with procedures of enforcement. I can assure you that the laws are going to be strictly enforced on all offenders.”

The anti-graft czar commended the initiative of the umbrella body of the Nigerian students and expressed the readiness of the Commission to support any initiative by stakeholders aimed at riding the country of corruption.

On the Chairman’s team was the Head, Public Affairs Department, Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, Ayodele Babatunde, who sensitised the students on the various ways to collaborate with the Commission in the anti-corruption fight.

In his remark, the Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu O. Usman expressed gratitude to the EFCC Chairman for sending a powerful team to attend the event.

While identifying with the successes of the EFCC in the anti-corruption fight currently championed by Abdulrasheed Bawa, Dr. Salisu said the Chairman’s sterling performances in office is an indication that the youths have the potentials to take this country to the next level.

He pledged the support of the institution to the Commission in its efforts to bring Nigeria out of the shackles of corruption.

According to him, we always tell our students that inasmuch as they are here to learn, they should also realise that we place much premium on character. Any student lacking in this regard will not get our certificate”.

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