The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has warned newly inducted engineering graduates against corruption and professional misconduct, saying compromised standards in the field could endanger lives and undermine Nigeria’s development.
Olukoyede gave the warning on Friday during the induction ceremony of 45 engineering graduates of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Delivering 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 said the country’s development challenges were partly linked to the failure to translate its natural and human resources into improved living conditions for citizens.
He argued that corruption remained a major obstacle to national progress, noting that the absence of professional integrity could lead to the falsification of records, manipulation of contracts, diversion of public funds and the execution of projects that fail to meet required standards.
Olukoyede said engineers had a particularly important responsibility to protect public interest because their decisions and professional conduct directly affect the safety, quality and durability of infrastructure and other critical systems.
He urged the graduates to uphold professional ethics in their careers and resist pressure to compromise standards for personal or financial gain.
The EFCC chairman also cautioned young people against cybercrime, identity theft, internet fraud and other forms of financial crime, warning that the attraction of quick money could come at the expense of their reputations, careers and future opportunities.
He identified several forms of economic and financial crimes affecting the country, including embezzlement, abuse of office, money laundering, diversion of public funds, illicit financial flows, terrorist financing, procurement fraud, bank fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage and virtual asset fraud.
Olukoyede expressed concern over what he described as society’s growing tolerance of unexplained wealth, observing that people suspected of involvement in corrupt activities were sometimes celebrated, given traditional titles or accorded prominent positions in religious gatherings.
He also criticised the tendency to defend individuals accused of wrongdoing on ethnic or other grounds, stressing that such attitudes weaken collective efforts to promote accountability.
Providing an update on the commission’s activities, Olukoyede disclosed that the EFCC had secured 10,872 convictions and recovered assets valued at more than ₦1.288 trillion over the preceding three years.
He said the commission was also strengthening preventive measures through its Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, which identifies financial and administrative vulnerabilities in ministries, departments and agencies of government. The department also monitors budget releases and works to prevent opportunities for fraud.
Among other initiatives, he highlighted the revised Interfaith Manual, presented on September 23, 2026, in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and other religious leaders. The initiative forms part of the commission’s efforts to use religious institutions and community structures to promote ethical conduct.
He also listed the EFCC’s 97.3 FM radio station, established in May 2024, and its Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre, launched on October 22, 2024, as part of its public enlightenment and crime prevention efforts.
According to him, the commission is further developing a Cybercrime Research Centre at its new academy in Giri, Abuja, to strengthen research and responses to technology-related financial crimes.
The EFCC chairman called on families, educational institutions, religious organisations, traditional rulers and professional associations to take greater responsibility for promoting integrity, saying efforts to tackle corruption must extend beyond law enforcement.
Speaking at the ceremony, engineer and entrepreneur Henrich Akomolafe highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence on engineering practice, particularly in design, construction, manufacturing, operations and maintenance.
He, however, cautioned graduates against relying on AI at the expense of professional judgement and accountability, describing the technology as an instrument for improving engineering capabilities rather than replacing human responsibility.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Babatunde Omojola, said the induction reflected the institution’s commitment to producing graduates equipped with the knowledge and professional values required to contribute meaningfully to society.
Similarly, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, S.A. Akinola, described the exercise as a demonstration of the relationship between knowledge, professional responsibility and partnership.
He said the oath taken by the graduates represented their commitment to applying their engineering skills in the interest of the public.
