The Kano zonal director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Shazali, has described corruption as the reason Nigerian youths are vulnerable to fraudulent practices,
He said, “The dreadful effects of internet fraud is its bandwagon effects on youths.”
According to him, any young person that is tainted with cybercrime faces a grim future noting that there is no sustainable success in internet fraud.
Shazali made this known on Thursday in Kano while addressing newsmen on behalf of the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day.
“I feel greatly delighted to address our youths at this event to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-corruption Day, a yearly gathering that has become an occasion of stocks-taking and pragmatic analysis of anti-graft initiatives across the world.
“The scourge of graft limits and vitiates the opportunities of youths for self-actualisation. Every young person needs an equal opportunity for self-expression.
“But this is impossible in societies where favouritism, nepotism and other extraneous considerations tilt opportunities in favour of some few privileged people.
“This is not good for the youths and it is for this reason that they need to forge a united front against corruption.
“The allure of easy money is drawing young people into the vortex of criminality. This explains why our institutions of higher learning are struggling to make students stay away from internet fraud.
“Any young person that is tainted with cybercrime faces a grim future. There is no sustainable success in internet fraud.
“Youths need collaborative efforts for progressive innovations.
This cannot be achieved in a corrupt environment.
“The strength that comes from a positive outlook and reform-minded pursuits is too important for youths to compromise on the altar of corruption,” he noted.
He also added that youths need a united voice to challenge unsavoury practices at every level of government.
“They need to come together to be watchdogs and active forces against any form of corruption. No other age group will do this for them.
“At this juncture, let me point out the route that can be taken by youths to achieve unity in the fight against corruption. One of those routes is deliberate synergy against graft.
“They can do this by forming associations, clubs, think-tanks and societies that promote good values. It is high time youths joined hands together to pursue values that will add strength to their lives,” he stated.
