Ifeoluwa Oladimeji
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has charged newly inducted engineering graduates to embrace integrity and stay away from corruption.
He warned that unethical conduct in the profession can put lives in danger and slow down national development.
He said corruption has stopped Nigeria from turning its rich resources into wealth and better living standards for its over 200 million citizens.
He gave the charge on Friday at the induction of 45 engineering graduates of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He delivered a lecture titled, “Integrity, Accountability and the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes: Building a Culture of Transparency and Responsibility in Nigeria.”
The EFCC chairman advised the graduates to reject cybercrime, identity theft and internet fraud.
He warned that the short-term benefits of crime could destroy their reputation and future.
He identified embezzlement, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering as forms of corruption in Nigeria.
He also listed illicit financial flows, terrorist financing, cyber fraud, investment fraud and procurement fraud.
He added bank fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage and virtual asset fraud to the list.
“The absence of integrity allows professionals to falsify records, manipulate contracts, divert public funds and compromise the quality of projects meant to serve the public. Corruption in the public and private sectors remains a major obstacle to Nigeria’s development,” he said.
He said engineers have a special duty to uphold professional standards.
He said poor infrastructure can endanger lives and destroy public trust.
The anti-graft boss also faulted society’s celebration of unexplained wealth.
He said corrupt persons are sometimes honoured with chieftaincy titles and given special seats in worship centres.
He said they are also defended on ethnic grounds.
“EFCC had secured 10,872 convictions and recovered monetary assets worth over N1.288trn in the last three years as part of efforts to combat economic and financial crimes,” he added.
He pointed out the creation of the commission’s Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control.
He said the department looks into weaknesses in ministries, departments and agencies.
He said it also monitors budget releases and works to prevent fraud.
He also cited the revised Interfaith Manual presented on September 23, 2026.
He said it was done in partnership with the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and other religious leaders.
He said it was part of the commission’s preventive measures.
Other programmes he mentioned included the EFCC’s 97.3 FM radio station, set up in May 2024.
He also mentioned the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre, unveiled on October 22, 2024.
Olukoyede said the commission is also setting up a Cybercrime Research Centre at its new academy in Giri, Abuja.
He called on families, schools, religious leaders and traditional rulers to promote ethical behaviour.
He also urged professional bodies to do the same.
He argued that a compromised system cannot produce responsible citizens or institutions.
In his address, an engineer and entrepreneur, Henrich Akomolafe, said artificial intelligence is changing how engineers work.
He said it is changing how they design, build, manufacture and maintain systems.
He, however, warned that the technology should not replace professional judgement, ethics or human responsibility.
“AI is a tool that strengthens engineering capability; it is not a substitute for engineering judgement, professional ethics or human responsibility,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Babatunde Omojola, said the induction ceremony showed the institution’s commitment to producing competent graduates.
He said it also showed commitment to producing professionally responsible graduates.
The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, S.A. Akinola, described the ceremony as a display of knowledge, responsibility and partnership.
He said the oath taken by the inductees was a promise to use their skills for the public good.
