EFCC Inaugurates 49 Integrity Ambassadors

As part of its proactive and preventive measures in the fight against illicit financial crimes in the society, the Port Harcourt command of the South-South zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has inaugurated over 49 volunteer students of the University of Port Harcourt into its zero tolerance integrity club.
The essence of the zero tolerance integrity club is bringing in the youths and interested members of the public to join hands with the nation’s anti-graft agency to fight the menace of financial crimes challenging the national economic development, as well as sensitise the members of the society especially the students on the dangers associated in involving in such destructive trade.
Inaugurating the University of Port Harcourt branch of the zero tolerance integrity club at the Students Affairs conference hall in Port Harcourt recently, the Zonal Commander of EFCC in Port Harcourt, Ahmed M. Ghali, who represented the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa said the inauguration was part of the proactive measures the commission had adopted to prevent the youth from going into corruption, be it yahoo ,internet fraud or other unwholesome practices .
Bawa averred that the essence of the programme was to sensitise the students on the dangers of involving in such illicit ventures so as to become better citizens the nation can be proud of tomorrow and added that the university was chosen because of its prime position in the comity of educational development institutions in the country.
According to him, the commission also has such proactive mechanism in secondary and primary schools but added that their operations differ.
“We have for universities, secondary, junior secondary and primary school levels and their applications differ. Honestly, there is high level of internet cyber fraud among students but not in this university and that is why we are sensitising them so as to catch them young. It is better to be proactive than reactive by going there to arrest them, “he stated .
The EFCC boss used the opportunity to advise the students to shun quick wealth syndrome and strive for hard work as it pays better and assured them of the commission’s collaboration to enable them succeed in the task ahead of them.
Also speaking, the Dean of Students Affairs of the university, Prof Chima C. Nwokocha commended the anti-graft agency for the initiative and assured that the institution would continue to partner with it to fight crime in the institution, adding that it was better to catch them young. The highlight of the programme was administration of oath and pledge of the club by the EFCC officials to the students.

By: Akujobi Amadi