The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged parents across the country to be focused on their children’s upbringing and offer good examples as early measures towards tackling corruption.
The EFCC Secretary, Muhammad Hammajoda, made this call on behalf of the commission, when he received members of the Advocacy for Positive Behavioral Patterns Initiative (AFPBPI) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He stressed the importance of instilling good values and ethical standards in children, in order to create a society that is intolerant of corruption.
Hammajoda said: “Let us be good examples to our young ones because our moral values have gone so bad, in such a way that many youths are into many things like drugs, they tell lies, they are corrupt and out of control.
“Parents should be able to correct and call them to order by not only speaking to their children but also living by example, because children are very observant of their parents’ behaviours.”
He stressed that the fight against corruption cannot be won solely by the commission, but requires the involvement of parents, role models, and other stakeholders.
He further reiterated the Commission’s commitment to prevention initiatives and stated that the EFCC is ready to cooperate and collaborate with AFPBPI in raising awareness and expressed hope that through collective efforts, corruption can be eliminated in Nigeria.
“That is why we need people like you to be our foot soldiers to enable us reach out to schools because the change begins with them at a very young age” he said.
The Director of the Campaign Team of AFPBPI, Mann Bamidele also said the purpose of the initiative is to impact positively in the lives of children and youths by catching them young and sensitising them against crimes.