EFCC Chairman Olukoyede: Neglect of Cultural Values Fuels Corruption in Nigeria

Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recently addressed the high rate of corruption in Nigeria, attributing it to the neglect of cultural values by citizens.

During a visit from Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, executive secretary/chief executive officer of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), the two discussed potential inter-agency collaborations to reorient Nigerians on the need to revive their cultural values as a tool to fighting and eradicating corruption in the country.

Ajiboye acknowledged the efforts of the EFCC in curbing the menace of corruption, emphasizing the need for citizens’ cultural orientation to address the high level of moral decadence and broken values.

Olukoyede stressed the importance of crime prevention over convictions and called for a focus on re-orienting the people, suggesting that NICO could play a significant role in this endeavor.

“We need people like you to support us by getting involved in the fight against corruption,” said Olukoyede. ”

Basic orientation is needed for Nigerians to understand the need to avoid engagements in criminal vices and we will not mind to give your Institute a desk in the Commission to see how we can join forces in re-orienting Nigerians because if we go back to our values and with the potency it has to take away the issue of moral decadence, I can assure you that it will reduce the bulk of my work.”

During the visit, Ajiboye highlighted NICO’s mandate as the foremost cultural training institute in the country, emphasizing the potential benefits of collaboration in tackling financial crimes and fraudulent activities through cultural and psychological re-wiring of Nigerians.

He further advocated for a return to Nigeria’s cherished cultural values, noting the importance of integrating culture at all levels into everyday activities.

NICO proposed training senior officers of the EFCC in cultural matters to improve productivity, with the belief that cultural appreciation can reduce the financial crime rate and corruption among Nigerians.

No culture in Nigeria encourages criminal behavior or greed, and the institute suggested that cultural orientation training could aid crime investigation and interrogation by respecting and appreciating a suspect’s cultural affinity.

The collaboration between the EFCC and NICO aims to address the root causes of corruption in Nigeria by promoting cultural values, re-orientation, and training.

This approach could lead to more effective crime detection and prevention, ultimately benefiting the nation’s economy and society as a whole.