From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), serving in Kwara State, have been urged to uphold integrity and take active roles in the fight against corruption as part of efforts to build a more accountable society.
This call was made by the Head of Public Affairs Department at the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Babatunde Ayodele, during a sensitisation programme for members of the NYSC/EFCC Community Development Service (CDS) group in Ilorin.
The engagement, which held at the conference room of the Kwara State Ministry of Environment, brought together about 80 corps members and formed part of the commission’s efforts to guide and monitor the activities of the CDS group while strengthening youth participation in the anti-corruption campaign.
Speaking during a lecture titled “Integrity and Personal Responsibility,” Ayodele stressed that corruption can only be defeated when individuals make deliberate choices to live honestly and resist fraudulent practices.
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He advised the corps members to avoid internet fraud and other forms of dishonesty, noting that personal values and discipline are key to shaping a society built on trust and accountability.
“The fight against corruption begins with individual values and personal choices. Young people must reject fraud and develop responsible digital behaviour while resisting peer pressure that can push them into internet crime,” he said.
Ayodele warned that involvement in cybercrime could lead to serious consequences including arrest, prosecution, permanent criminal records, loss of assets and damage to family reputation.
According to him, the short-term financial gains from fraudulent activities are never worth the long-term damage they cause to an individual’s future.
He urged the corps members to channel their energy into productive ventures such as entrepreneurship, digital skills development and professional growth, noting that many Nigerians have built successful careers through hard work and integrity.
“Nigeria will not change because of policies alone. It will change when young people decide that integrity is non-negotiable,” he added.
Ayodele also challenged the corps members to act as ambassadors of integrity by educating people in their host communities about the dangers of corruption, promoting ethical values among youths and supporting lawful institutions.
In her remarks, the CDS Group Supervisor, Abosede Gbolahan, commended the EFCC for its sustained partnership with the NYSC in promoting integrity among corps members across the country.
She noted that the collaboration has helped equip young graduates with the knowledge and confidence to support the national anti-corruption drive.
Gbolahan also called for deeper cooperation between the EFCC and the NYSC to further empower corps members to contribute meaningfully to efforts aimed at reducing corruption in Nigeria.
