The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has promised not shield criminals within its fold.
The association made the pledge on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the NANS team led by Olujuwon Asubiojo, the Chairman, Joint Campus Committee, Oyo State Chapter, was received by Mr Friday Elebo, the Zonal head of EFCC.
The EFCC had recently raised an alarm over the increasing rate of youth involvement in criminal activities.
Asubiojo expressed satisfaction at the EFCC’s efforts at ridding the society of economic and financial crimes, pledging the association’s readiness to expose all forms of corruption across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“Though, it is our responsibility to protect the interest of students, we will not protect the interest of criminals,” he said.
He noted that the association had always wanted to relate with the anti-graft agency on how best to collaborate to change the disturbing trend of youth involvement in criminal activities.
“:The trend has reached a worrisome level that calls for strategic collaboration between our association and the anti-graft body with a view to changing the narrative in the interest of the country.
“If we do not join hands with anti-graft agencies to fight corruption, corruption will come back to fight us.
” The fight against corruption is not just the duty of the EFCC, it is a patriotic effort we must enlist in,” he said.
Asubiojo also expressed willingness to feature in any capacity that would extensively address issues of corruption in the academic environment.
“We are already planning programmes to sensitise youths in tertiary institutions on the ills of corruption.
“We implore the commission to beam its searchlight on issues of corruption at the administrative level in our tertiary institutions.
” A lot is going on there which the EFCC needs to show more than passing interest in,” he added.
Ebelo, who received the delegation on behalf of the EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, described the anti-graft agency as a youth-friendly body.
He said that the sustained crackdown on internet fraudsters in recent times was to dissuade the youths from starting out their lives as criminals and ex-convicts.
Ebelo thanked the student leaders for the visit, suggestions and willingness to be part of efforts aimed at making Nigeria a crime-free society.
“The image of this country has been heavily battered by the nefarious activities of the corrupt few.
” We are a hardworking people and it is just a few that are denting the image of the country,” he said.
The EFCC boss urged them to face life’s challenges with determination and ensure that they give their best in all they do, saying hard work pays.
“Youths should invest their time in things that will bring pride to their families, not shame,” he said.
He assured them of robust collaboration, adding that all issues brought before the commission would be looked into.
