The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for greater collaboration between the media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), describing them as indispensable allies in the fight against corruption.
Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, stated this while declaring open a one-day sensitization workshop for CSOs and journalists held in Kano.
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Organized by the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, the workshop focused on educating participants on understanding cryptocurrency fraud and other emerging cyber and financial crimes.
Represented by the Acting Zonal Director, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, the EFCC Chairman said the fight against corruption is not a solo mission but a collective national endeavor that requires synergy, trust, and shared intelligence.
He emphasized that journalists and CSOs are not merely observers but critical drivers of change, serving as the conscience of society and vital bridges between the government and the people.
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According to him, journalists wield the powerful pen that shapes public opinion, holds power accountable, and exposes corruption wherever it hides.
Mr. Olukoyede noted the growing shift from traditional financial crimes to sophisticated, cyber-enabled schemes such as cryptocurrency fraud which, though seemingly victimless, destroys livelihoods, wipes out life savings, and undermines confidence in financial systems.
In his presentation titled “The Role of CSOs and Media in Driving a Preventive Framework,” the Head of Media and Publicity EFCC Headquarters, Mr. Dele Oyewole, stressed the need for vigilance, collaboration, and intelligence sharing in combating corruption and bringing perpetrators to justice.
He also urged participants to make use of the EFCC’s anonymous digital corruption reporting app to help eliminate corrupt practices across the country.
In his remarks, Chairman of the NUJ Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Murtala Adewale, commended the EFCC for the timely initiative, pledging that journalists will apply the knowledge gained positively in the discharge of their duties.