Nigerian Youths Drum Support for EFCC

The management of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, on July 20, 2017 expressed its willingness to partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its bid to promote the anti-corruption initiative in Nigeria.

 

Haruwa Okatahi, Director of Employment, Social Security and Skill Acquisition, NYCN, made this known when he led a team of management staff on a visit to the Abuja head office of the EFCC.

 

According to him, “The NYCN is an umbrella body which represents youths across the 36 States including FCT with strong presence in the Local Government Areas and numerous wards nationwide. The organization provides a platform for the advancement, mobilization and coordination of youth development, and the promotion of peace, unity and tolerance.”

 

Okatahi noted that for the council to be able to effectively discharge its directives, it needed to partner with the EFCC.

 

He said the council was also at the Commission in solidarity with the acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who he described as “the best hand to lead the anti-graft agency especially at this critical time of our nation building”.  

 

Also speaking, Sule Yakubu, Director of Programmes, NYCN, acknowledged the numerous awareness and sensitization programmes created by the EFCC recently, and apologized for the absence of the President who he said had other pressing matters to attend to.

 

“We commend your resolute commitment towards revamping the fight against corruption, and we are here to seek collaboration with you”, he said.

 

Yakubu, however, noted that much still needed to be done as most youths were still vulnerable due to the negative influence of corrupt politicians.

 

He pledged the support of all Nigerians youths to the EFCC as the issues surrounding the confirmation of the agency’s acting chairman was a clear signal of corruption fighting back adding that, “the youths will be mobilized and engaged to rally support and promote the anti-corruption initiative under the leadership of Magu”.

 

In his remark, Ugwumba Kelechi, Chief of Staff, NYCN, while acknowledging the tremendous work done by the anti-graft agency said that Nigerian youths would resist attempts by corrupt elements to return the country to the dark days where corruption was the order of the day.

 

“During the 4th Annual Lecture held on May 29, 2017 which coincides with the democracy day celebrations, the group developed the ‘White and Sniper Agenda’ to encourage Nigerian youths to rise and fight the prevailing type of corruption in the Nation as most of the elites and politicians use the youths adversely to coerce them into corruption sometimes resulting in violence such as electoral violence”, said Kelechi.

 

Responding, Magu thanked the NYCN team for the visit and urged them to work with the various anti-corruption initiatives that have been established at the tertiary, secondary and primary school levels by the EFCC, as a proactive measure in fighting corruption.

 

Highlight of the occasion was the conferment of the award of Special Agent of Change - Vision 2017-2018 on Magu.

 

On the visit were: Blessing Okwe, Social Secretary; Anna Dennis Nege, Welfare Oficer; Awujoola Kehinde, Director, Gender and Girl- Child Empowernment; Ahmad Musa Geidam, SSA Political to the President; Adedotun Omoleye, Director, Political and Democratic Issues.