The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as part of efforts to promote anti‑corruption education and youth development nationwide.
Mr. Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Executive Chairman, pledged at the NYSC’s 53rd anniversary celebration held on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Lagos. Speaking through Assistant Commander ACE II Babatunde Sulaiman, Head of Public Affairs, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Olukoyede described the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s most enduring nation‑building institutions.
“For over five decades, the scheme has continued to bridge ethnic, cultural, and religious divides while nurturing generations of youths committed to national development,” he said, adding that young Nigerians are central to the country’s future.
Olukoyede said the fight against corruption, economic sabotage, cybercrime and other financial crimes cannot be left to the EFCC alone but requires the “collective commitment of patriotic citizens, especially young people.” He said existing EFCC‑NYSC programmes — including sustained sensitisation drives, community development initiatives and anti‑corruption advocacy — have positioned corps members as agents of national unity and ambassadors of ethical values.
He urged corps members to “reject every form of fraud, corruption and criminality, including internet‑related offences that threaten the image and progress of our nation. True success is built on integrity, not shortcuts.”
In her address, Lagos State NYSC Coordinator Christiana Salmwang traced the scheme’s origin to the aftermath of the civil war, noting the NYSC was created by Decree No. 24 in 1973 to foster unity and a common destiny. She said the past 53 years have seen more than five million young Nigerians serve in classrooms, during elections and in emergencies, helping to knit communities across the country.
“From Sokoto to Yenagoa and from Maiduguri to Calabar, the NYSC has made neighbours become friends, and friends become brothers and sisters,” Salmwang said. “The ‘Khaki’ is not just a uniform; it is a promise that no part of Nigeria is too far and no Nigerian too different to serve.”
Both the EFCC and NYSC said they would maintain and expand joint programmes aimed at educating corps members on anti‑corruption measures, strengthening ethical leadership, and equipping young graduates with the knowledge to resist and report financial crimes
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