EFCC Tasks Heads of Tertiary Institutions on Tackling Internet Fraud

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on heads of tertiary institutions across the country to join hands with the commission in tackling the rising tide of internet fraud among students of tertiary institutions.

Olukoyede made the call in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday during an interactive session with Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of tertiary institutions in Kogi State at the Ilorin Zonal Command Office in Ilorin.

Represented by Ilorin Zonal Commander of EFCC, Mr. Michael Nzekwe, at the event, Olukoyede said the engagement was in furtherance of their meeting earlier held on May 4 in Kwara State as part of the proactive measures by the Command to checkmate cybercrime in the state.

The EFCC boss called on authorities of tertiary institutions to put in place measures that would discourage students from indulging in crimes.

He also admonished parents to be more committed to the moral upbringing of their children in schools in order to bolster the prevention agenda of his administration.

According to him, “The commission can achieve the task of ridding the country of corruption if every institution gets involved and actively participates in the fight against the menace.

“Higher institutions must endeavour to change the current negative narrative regarding the quality of education in Nigeria because a corruption-free Nigeria is possible if every individual is proactively and sincerely involved in the fight against corruption.”

Deliberations were also made on the causes of corruption, its effects on students and the society, including preventive measures to adopt in curbing corrupt practices in tertiary institutions.

While responding, Vice Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Professor Salawu Sadiku, lauded the initiative of the EFCC, urging the commission to ensure that anti-corruption courses are incorporated into the school curriculum and taught at all levels.

“Youths of today are exposed to a number of vices that are capable of ruining their lives permanently. We need to do more for students to focus on their studies and desist from all forms of cybercrimes,” he said.

Similarly, Dr. Salisu Usman, rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, and Dr. Umar Hassan, provost, College of Education, Okene, stressed the need for the introduction of anti-corruption watchdog as part of veritable measures to checkmate cybercrime on campuses.