Blessing Omale, Abuja
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged Nigerian youths to reject internet fraud and other forms of cybercrime, warning that the pursuit of quick wealth could destroy their future and lead to the loss of assets acquired through illicit means.
Olukoyede gave the warning in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he addressed youths and teenagers at a conference organised by the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Rivers State Chapter.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, noting that the conference which held at the Port Harcourt Ecumenical Centre on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, was organised to raise awareness among young people on the dangers of social vices and promote positive alternatives.
Represented by a Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, James Adayilo Hosea, the EFCC chairman spoke on the topic, “Internet Fraud Dangers, Consequences and Godly Alternative.”
Olukoyede defined internet fraud as the use of the internet, computers, mobile phones and social media platforms to deceive people for financial gain, warning that involvement in cybercrime could have consequences extending far beyond arrest and prosecution.
He listed some common forms of internet fraud to include fake online investment schemes, romance scams, identity theft, social media impersonation, online shopping scams, cryptocurrency scams, fake giveaways and fraudulent job offers.
According to him, youths who engage in such activities expose themselves to arrest, prosecution, conviction, imprisonment and forfeiture of assets linked to the proceeds of crime.
“All you have laboured for will be taken away,” he warned.
The EFCC chairman said the desire to become wealthy quickly, coupled with peer pressure, remained a major factor pushing young people into internet fraud.
He observed that many young Nigerians increasingly wanted the material benefits associated with success without being prepared to undergo the process required to achieve legitimate success.
“Many young people want quick results without process. They want a car before career; comfortable lifestyle before they labour. They want rewards before work. Unfortunately, life does not work that way,” he said.
Olukoyede added that success achieved without the necessary process, discipline and hard work was unlikely to be sustainable.
“Success without process rarely lasts. Peer pressure also leads some into committing internet crimes,” he said.
He urged the youths to resist pressure from friends and social circles that glorify unexplained wealth, expensive lifestyles and instant financial success.
The EFCC boss, who addressed the youths from a Christian perspective, urged them to embrace honesty, integrity and responsible citizenship.
He said young Nigerians had unique talents, gifts and abilities that could be developed into legitimate sources of livelihood.
“God created every young person with unique gifts, talents, and a purpose. He did not create us to live by deception or dishonesty, but to be lights in our generation,” he said.
Olukoyede challenged young people to redirect their use of technology towards productive ventures, innovation and legitimate wealth creation instead of using digital platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims.
“Instead of using technology to scam people, use it to create value and be responsible citizens by learning useful skills and contributing meaningfully to the growth of the economy,” he said.
He advised youths to develop marketable skills that could improve their employability and entrepreneurial prospects, while encouraging them to seek the guidance of mentors whose lives demonstrate integrity and responsible success.
He also urged them to develop personal development plans, set long-term goals and avoid decisions driven by the desire for instant gratification.
Among the measures recommended by the EFCC chairman were choosing friends carefully, avoiding get-rich-quick schemes, acquiring relevant skills, seeking credible mentors, spending time in prayer and studying the Bible.
He further encouraged the youths to focus on long-term success and use technology to solve problems, create economic opportunities and contribute positively to society.
The EFCC has intensified its public enlightenment campaigns targeting young Nigerians, particularly on the consequences of cybercrime and the dangers associated with lifestyles built around proceeds of fraud.
Olukoyede’s message in Port Harcourt was therefore both a warning against the legal consequences of internet fraud and a call for young Nigerians to pursue legitimate pathways to economic independence.
He stressed that the choices made by young people today would determine their future, urging them to prioritise character, skills, hard work and integrity over the pressure to acquire wealth at all costs.
