The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on youths across the country to make use of opportunities provided by the booming fashion and designing industry to help develop the economy of Nigeria and be good ambassadors rather than engaging in illicit criminal practices that continually smear the image of the country.
Olukoyede spoke at the African Fashion Festival Master Class, held in Abuja, on Friday, November 1, 2024.
The Head, Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit of the Commission, Aisha Mohammed, who represented the Chairman said the EFCC was always ready to support Nigerian youths and especially those trying their skills and talents in entrepreneurship.
She encouraged the youth to be good brand ambassadors of the country, rather portraying the country in bad light through internet fraud, drug trafficking, economic and financial crimes.
‘‘You have to be a good brand and that brand is that wherever you go; you represent a community, your parents, and your country. So we try to encourage the youths, children, and everyone to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Nigeria is a great country”, she said.
According to her, fighting corruption is a collective responsibility, maintaining that the EFCC cannot do it alone. ‘‘Fighting corruption is everyone’s responsibility. We are trying to encourage and support people to be entrepreneurs. What you are doing is what we want every youth to do because as youths, you have to occupy yourselves with positive things by engaging in creative and skillful things that will help you develop yourselves in future,” she said.
She further explained that, “we have to make Nigeria a better place, we cannot all leave the country (Japa), but together we have to salvage our country and there’s no place like home. Even if we go anywhere, we’ll still come back here where we have our families and relatives”.
At the event, notable entrepreneurs gave personal accounts of their experience and exploits in entrepreneurship. They charged youths to be focused, passionate and patriotic. Some of them include Adewale Aladejana, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Sapphire Scents, Oluwatoyin Okeowo, a professional pattern-maker and fashion designer, Oluwaseyi Perez-Folayan, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Bezaleel, Amb. Phil Roberts, Founder, Tourism Volunteer Network Tourism, Promoter and Musician, among others.