President Bola Tinubu has vehemently rejected the portrayal of Nigerians as inherently corrupt, calling such generalizations “unfair” and “uninformed.”
He expressed this view during the Public Engagement on Youth, Religion, and the Fight Against Corruption, organized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The event, which also marked the launch of an Inter-Faith Manual and Fraud Risk Assessment Project for MDAs, took place in Abuja this Wednesday.
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, commended the EFCC for serving as a moral compass and persistently awakening the nation’s conscience.
He went on to stress the unfairness of labeling all Nigerians based on the actions of a few, emphasizing that Nigeria is home to diligent and honest people.
In clear terms, the President rejected the blanket mislabeling that taints the reputation of the majority of Nigerian citizens.
He said, “Over the decades, Nigerians have been victims of mislabelling. Such gross misrepresentation fails to reflect the true essence of our diverse and resilient nation. The association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace lacks statistical evidence and does not align with the sociology of everyday Nigerians. Our nation comprises hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various fields globally, from Artificial Intelligence to medicine.
“While we reject blanket stereotyping that undermines the majority upholding principles of integrity and diligence, we must face the fact that we function in an interconnected world where cybercrimes have evolved into a global phenomenon.”
