Be the Girl Who Says No to Fraud, EFCC Boss Charges Young Women

​ABUJA — The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has challenged young women across the country to reject corruption, fraudulent practices, and the pervasive “get-rich-quick” mentality, urging them instead to channel their creative energies into promoting integrity and hard work.

​Olukoyede gave the charge during the graduation and award ceremony of the African Girl Guide (AGG) 12-Week Leadership Exposure Programme held in Abuja. The event, which centered on the theme “Leading Beyond the Programme: Sustaining Purpose, Influence, and Impact,” marked the successful completion of intensive leadership and mentorship training for 37 young women.

​Represented by the Head of the Commission’s Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit, Assistant Commander of EFCC (ACE II) Aisha Mohammed, Olukoyede stressed that law enforcement alone cannot completely eradicate economic crimes without a fundamental reorientation of societal values.

​“Your theme is exactly what Nigeria needs. In EFCC, we fight the ‘yahoo yahoo’ and the ‘get-rich-quick’ mentality that is destroying many of our youth. But we know law enforcement alone is not enough; we need home training; we need the Girl Guide training. In EFCC, we know that corruption starts with a compromise of character. And character is what you are building here,” he stated.

​The EFCC chairman urged the newly minted graduates to lead with clear purpose, leverage their collective influence responsibly, and maintain zero tolerance for examination malpractice, bribery, and shortcuts to success.

​“Be the girl who says no to fraud, no to shortcuts, and yes to hard work. Your influence is powerful when you pool it together,” Olukoyede admonished, while assuring that the anti-graft agency remains committed to collaborating with youth-focused organisations to create legitimate platforms for young Nigerians to thrive.

​Echoing similar sentiments, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, defined true leadership not by the wielding of authority, but by an individual’s capacity to drive positive change and do what is right. Issa-Onilu, who was represented by Margaret Yenami, encouraged the graduates to embrace courage, responsibility, and continuous learning as they project positive national values.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Similarly, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, lauded the African Girl Guide initiative as a vital partner in safeguarding vulnerable citizens. Represented by Kehinde Akomolafe, Bello charged the participants to protect their dreams, understand their fundamental rights, and act as beacons of hope to others.

​The founder of the African Girl Guide, Jindu Peter Elueze, expressed profound gratitude to supporting stakeholders, noting that the empowerment of women remains critical to driving sustainable African development.

​The ceremony reached its peak with the presentation of the “Distinguished Integrity” and “Legacy Advocacy” awards to the EFCC chairman in recognition of his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, accountability, and mentorship.