The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has described sports as a powerful tool for uniting young people and steering them away from internet fraud and other social vices.
Olukoyede made the assertion in Abuja on Thursday, during a courtesy visit to the President of the Organization of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA), Maikano Abdullahi.
Represented by the Head of EFCC Sports, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Halilu Dauda, who was part of a delegation from the Association of Directors of Sports from the Armed Forces, Police and Paramilitary Agencies, Olukoyede highlighted the role of sports in youth development and crime prevention.
According to him, the EFCC has successfully engaged many young Nigerians through its sports programmes, providing employment opportunities and helping to keep them away from criminal activities.
“In my organization, we have done a lot in terms of taking youths off the streets and giving them opportunities in sports. Many youths are employed in my organization because of sports.
“I believe all other organizations here are doing the same, and if we can improve on these efforts, we are going to take many more youths off the streets and cybercrimes will definitely reduce,” he said.
He added that increased youth participation in sports would also contribute to tackling insecurity, as more young people would be gainfully engaged and their talents effectively harnessed.
Responding, Abdullahi commended the delegation for the visit and expressed his readiness to collaborate with security and paramilitary agencies to strengthen sports development across the country.
He described sports as one of the world’s largest employment sectors, noting that people earn livelihoods through participation, administration, marketing, and spectatorship.
“Sport is one of the biggest labour markets in the world. It is either you are watching, selling or participating. I appreciate your commitment to giving sports a more effective direction.
“We have many talents in various organizations that we do not know. Let us discover them and train athletes who will represent Nigeria. If we form a paramilitary team, I believe no team in Africa can beat us,” he stated.
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Abdullahi further called for greater awareness and support for military and paramilitary sports, stressing that such initiatives promote unity, discipline, social interaction, sportsmanship, and national pride.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation leader, Lawal Oladipo, Commandant of Sports of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, emphasized the need for stronger sporting ties among the Armed Forces, Police, and paramilitary agencies.
He noted that enhanced collaboration through sports would improve coordination, information sharing, patriotism, and esprit de corps among security agencies, while also creating opportunities for talent discovery and participation in national and international competitions.
