The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has received a National Honorary Award recognising him as Nigeria’s Icon of Anti-Corruption, Financial Integrity, Economic Development and Youth Empowerment at the 2026 National Youth Day celebration in Abuja on Tuesday, November 3.
The award was presented by the Patriotic Nigeria Youth Forum (PNYF) during an event themed “Reimagining the Nigerian Youth: Leadership, Innovation and a Greater Nation.” The recognition was attributed to Olukoyede’s leadership of the anti-graft agency, efforts to promote integrity and initiatives aimed at protecting young Nigerians from economic and financial crimes.
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Speaking at the event, the forum’s Convener and National Coordinator, Comrade Olamide Odumosu, described the celebration as a call to action and an opportunity to renew commitment to building a better Nigeria through youth development.
Odumosu said the programme was designed to encourage meaningful conversations around leadership, innovation, networking and national development, while providing young Nigerians with opportunities to contribute to the country’s future.
He stressed that celebrating young people’s potential must go hand in hand with creating an environment where they could develop their abilities and make meaningful contributions to society.
“We cannot continue to celebrate the potential of our youths without creating the opportunities that will enable them to fulfil that potential, because young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and nation builders of today,” he said.
Olukoyede, who was represented by the Head of the EFCC’s Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Aisha Mohammed, delivered a keynote address titled “Nigerian Youth and the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes: Building a Culture of Integrity for National Development.”
In his address, the EFCC chairman described young Nigerians as a critical force in the country’s development, noting that their population and growing influence in the digital economy presented significant opportunities for national progress.
He observed that more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population was below the age of 35, arguing that the country’s demographic advantage could become a major liability if young people’s energy was not channelled towards productive and ethical activities.
Olukoyede also raised concerns about the involvement of young Nigerians in internet-related fraud, citing figures which he said showed that more than 75 per cent of convictions for internet-related fraud recorded by the Commission in the preceding 12 months involved individuals aged between 18 and 35.
He identified several emerging forms of financial crime involving young people, including the creation of fraudulent investment applications, fake vendor platforms, romance scams, sextortion and the use of young women as account mules.
According to him, some undergraduates who could be applying their digital skills to innovation and technological development were instead using those abilities to facilitate fraudulent activities.
However, he emphasised that the message was not intended to condemn Nigerian youths but to encourage them to become active participants in the fight against corruption.
“This is not the Nigerian youth we are proud of. But I am not here to condemn, rather I am here to call you to action, because the same youth population that is vulnerable to crime is also the most powerful weapon against corruption,” he said.
The EFCC chairman further urged young Nigerians to develop financial intelligence, exercise caution when engaging in online transactions and avoid fraudulent investment schemes and the temptation of quick wealth.
He maintained that the fight against economic and financial crimes required more than law enforcement, stressing the importance of prevention, public enlightenment and collective responsibility.
Olukoyede outlined four areas of the Commission’s strategy: reorientation of values, financial literacy and responsibility, consequences and accountability, as well as partnership and reward.
He also encouraged young people to take ownership of the digital space by identifying suspicious activities, reporting online fraud and refusing to participate in criminal networks.
“At the EFCC, we have moved beyond enforcement to prevention. We believe building integrity is cheaper and more sustainable than prosecuting crime,” he stated.
“My charge to you is that the EFCC cannot do it alone, so decide to be the example, decide to be informed and decide to be a whistleblower, not a spectator,” he added.
The address comes amid the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its enforcement and preventive strategies against economic and financial crimes. In August 2026, Olukoyede disclosed that the Commission had secured 10,872 convictions from October 2023 to July 2026, following investigations into 39,615 cases and the filing of 14,476 cases in court.
Also speaking at the National Youth Day celebration, the Minister of Youth Development, represented by Ngozi Icheke Ofurum, called on young Nigerians to rise above ethnic differences and embrace their responsibility in building a more inclusive and prosperous country.
The minister’s representative emphasised that national development was not solely the responsibility of political leaders but depended on the everyday decisions and contributions of citizens.
“Let me use this opportunity to challenge the Nigerian youths to rise above ethnic differences, use their talents and energy to promote peace and development.
Let’s build a Nigeria where everyone has equal chances to thrive,” the representative said.
She further encouraged young Nigerians to embrace courage, innovation and active participation in nation-building, describing them as essential partners in shaping the country’s future.
The celebration provided a platform for discussions on youth leadership, economic participation, innovation and national development, with the recognition of Olukoyede highlighting the importance organisers attached to integrity and the fight against financial crimes.
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As Nigeria continues to contend with the challenges of cybercrime and financial fraud, the EFCC chairman’s message placed renewed emphasis on the role of young people in promoting accountability and building a culture of integrity.
