Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has urged corps members nationwide to serve as whistleblowers in the fight against corruption.

Mr Olukoyede gave the charge while addressing corps members at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, through the assistant commander of the EFCC, Babatunde Sulaiman, on Wednesday.

Mr Olukoyede said corps members should embrace whistle-blowing to become responsible partners in the fight against corruption. He explained that whistle-blowing should be used to provide credible information through appropriate channels, not as a means of settling personal grudges or spreading gossip.

At the NYSC orientation camp in Awgu council area of Enugu, Mr Olukoyede, represented by the EFCC’s chief superintendent, Paul Ikpor, said there was no shame in learning a skill, building a business gradually, developing an idea, failing at something legitimate and trying again.

At the NYSC orientation camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai council area of Rivers, Mr Olukoyede, represented by an EFCC inspector, Wisdom Omereji, said the same intelligence that could be misused for cybercrime could be channelled into software development, digital marketing, financial technology, content creation, e-commerce and other legitimate opportunities.

The EFCC chief warned corps members against allowing social pressure to make them feel unsuccessful because someone their age appeared wealthier.

He also urged corps members to serve as agents of public enlightenment by using their community development service and social media platforms to promote integrity, legitimate opportunities and awareness of the consequences of cybercrime.