Ex-EFCC Chairman Urges Nigerian Youths to Break Cycle of Corruption

Former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has called on Nigerian youths to lead efforts to end the country’s entrenched cycle of corruption. Speaking at the gala night of the National Industrial Manpower Summit 2025 at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Magu described corruption as the biggest obstacle to Nigeria’s growth.

The summit, themed “Manpower Development – The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity”, aimed at enhancing the capacity of young Nigerians for national development.

Magu emphasized that corruption is not only a government problem but also a cultural one. He highlighted its impact on education, noting that lack of teachers and inadequate facilities despite large expenditures is a direct result of corrupt practices. He also linked the migration of talented Nigerians to the country’s corruption challenges.

“Corruption kills innovation, hope, and the spirit of our youth,” he said, while commending young Nigerians for entrepreneurial ventures in tech, agriculture, fashion, and app development across the country.

Magu urged youths to embrace integrity, reject shortcuts, and recognize that genuine leadership starts with character. He also advocated reforms such as transparent recruitment processes, proper use of education funds, and protection for whistleblowers.

“If manpower is the engine of national development, then anti-corruption is the oil that keeps that engine running,” he said, praising President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to youth empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

During his tenure at the EFCC between 2015 and 2020, Magu secured convictions of over 600 individuals for corruption-related offences, underscoring his long-standing fight against financial crimes in Nigeria.