EFCC Inaugurates Anti-Corruption Club at UNILORIN:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has inaugurated the Zero Tolerance for Corruption (ZTC) Club at the University of Ilorin.
The Commission’s Head of Enlightenment and Re-orientation, Hajia Aisha Larai Musa, who performed the inauguration last Tuesday (April 8, 2014), on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, called on the youths to shun corruption and join in the fight against economic and financial crimes as a way of creating a better future for themselves.
Hajia Musa noted that corruption remains the bane of Nigeria’s development, challenging the students to take up the gauntlet in the fight against the scourge. She advised them to use the internet judiciously and positively and not for negative activities which could attract stiff punishment under the law.
She said: “Let it be made clear that the ZTC is not a parallel university or student administration nor is it an investigative body. Whatever information you have on corrupt practices anywhere, we expect that you report to us and such reports will be treated in strict confidence and very professionally”
“As change agents and anti-corruption vanguards of the EFCC, you must be above board while integrity and hard work must be your watchwords at all times.”
Commending the Management of the University of Ilorin over the beautiful campus environment, Hajia Musa observed, “As we drove into the University of Ilorin, I perceived transparency and accountability. As I saw the Senate Building and I was walking through, I noticed the University is extremely neat; and for us in EFCC, where there is transparency and accountability, where there is neatness, shows everybody in that University has what is called integrity and is upright.”
In his address on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, commended the EFCC for setting up the Zero Tolerance for Corruption (ZTC) Club, saying it will complement the activities of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU). He also said it is in tandem with the University’s zero tolerance for indiscipline.
Prof. Ambali, who espoused the ideals of an “Omoluabi”, meaning a person of excellent character, noted that as important as learning is, the University places more emphasis on character because learning without character is destructive and counter-productive.
Highlighting the virtues of an Omoluabi as someone who is “hardworking, diligent, responsible, serious-minded, fair, honest, trustworthy, kind, respectful and Godly in all his activities”, the Vice-Chancellor pointed out that students know that if they fall short of expectation in terms of character, they are punished according to the rules and regulations of the University.
While noting that the University is the home of transparency and accountability in financial dealings where high premium is placed on due process, Prof. Ambali said, “the problem with Nigeria is that learning does not always go with character which is why there are highly “educated” people that you find in different parts of this country who do not exhibit the minimum requirements of truth, honesty, accountability and other virtues that shape characters.
The Vice-Chancellor said, “Unfortunately many people are not taking any action about reversing the trend and the situation seems to be worsening with the high rate of crime and other forms of anti-social behaviour plaguing the country. Our campuses are not exempted as what is happening in some universities is frightening.”
Prof. Ambali, however, vouched for the integrity of students of the University of Ilorin, saying, “I can attest, Madam, that the students of the University of Ilorin are free of all these vices. Just as you observe that our campus is very clean, the students are very clean. They are well dressed, they are very smart; they are what we expect any student to be, they are our models and they are the pride of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that it is on record that for the past 13 years “we have never gone on strike and that is the level of recognition of the level of discipline and commitment by both staff and students of this great University”.
Among those who attended the event were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Bayo Lawal; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Yisa Fakunle; the Bursar, Mr. Abiodun Saka Yusuf; Deans of Faculties, Directors, staff and students.