Michael Nzekwe, the Ilorin Zonal Commander, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has stressed the need for the authorities of higher institutions in Kwara State to support the commission to nip in the bud the menace of internet fraud.
Nzekwe made the call in Ilorin during an interactive meeting with Heads of Tertiary Institutions, which included Vice Chancellors of Universities, Rectors of Polytechnics and Provosts of Colleges of Education in Kwara State, held at the Commission’s Office, GRA.
He described the recent developments that now turned our citadels of learning to environment rift with corrupt practices, maladministration and diversion of public funds as unfortunate, adding that, “Our universities must endeavour to change the current negative narrative regarding the quality of education in Nigeria.”
The Zonal Commander observed that the EFCC could only achieve the onerous task of riding the country of corruption “when every institution gets involved and actively participate in the fight to rescue our country from the shackles of corruption.
The meeting, which focused on the causes of corruption, its effects on students and the institutions as well as the larger society, also deliberated on the preventive measures to adopt in curbing corrupt practices in tertiary institutions.
“We at EFCC are passionate towards engendering discipline, honesty, hardwork, accountability and transparency through our proactive mechanism of checkmating corruption and we will remain antagonistic against fraud and every form of corruption in our institutions,” he said.
He used the opportunity to intimate participants of ongoing efforts by the Chairman, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, towards ensuring that anti-corruption courses were incorporated into the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education curriculum.
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In his submission, O.A Omotesho, a professor, who represented the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, praised the giant strides of the EFCC, especially its efforts in ensuring probity and transparency in private and public sectors in the state.
He urged the Commission, as a matter of necessity, to develop a database where details of the convicted persons could be found, adding that such a database would assist the decisions of the school authorities on convicted persons.
Abdul Jimoh, the Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, lauded the initiative of the Command in bringing heads of tertiary institutions together on a round table to discuss issues of corruption as it affected their various institutions.
He noted that Kwara Polytechnic had already made it a policy that it would no longer offer admission to applicants who had been convicted over one crime or the other.
In his remark, Salimonu Ishaq, deputy rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, expressed readiness of the institution to collaborate with the EFCC, while urging it not to be deterred as corruption would always fight back.
Similarly, Adewunmi Idowu and Hamzat Nurudeen, who are Deputy Provost, Kwara State College of Education, Oro and Acting Provost, Muyideen College of Education, Ilorin, respectively while advocating for sustainability of the engagement called on members to support and embrace the good work of the EFCC for a better Nigeria. They also urged the Commission to focus more on its preventive measures rather than being reactive.
The interactive session, which lasted about two hours, attracted participants from federal, state and private-owned tertiary institutions in the state.
