The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an electronic learning management studio at its Academy in Karu, Abuja.
The commissioning, which concluded the three-day 6th Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions of West Africa (NACIWA), took place Wednesday, and drew a cream of anti-corruption experts from the West African sub-region.
Mr. Ola Olukeyede, the EFCC Chairman, who also doubles as the President of NACIWA, while launching the studio, stated that the EFCC would continue to employ all forms of technology-driven facilities and avenues to fight economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
Highlighting the importance of technology in the fight against corruption, Olukoyede pointed out that the studio will add value to the productivity of staff and help develop capacity.
“As you are all aware, our mandate is now technology-driven. In those days, you get to go to the bank, fill out vouchers, fill everything, collect your card, put it in your boot and drive it home, but today, at the press of a button, you move money across the world, and so if they have advanced in the way they move money, we are also advancing in the way we checkmate them, and that is the essence of this project,” he said.
Explaining the concept of an e-learning studio at the Academy, Mrs Chinwe Ndubeze Commandant, EFCC Academy, stated that the Academy, in addition to its statutory capacity-building mandate for the EFCC workforce and staff of other law enforcement agencies, is the designated training Academy for NACIWA.
“The EFCC Academy is the designated training Academy for NACIWA, you will be delighted to be part of this beautiful event, wherein we are launching our e-learning system because it is a demonstration that not just the EFCC but NACIWA is moving forward and not lagging with trends relating to the digital era.
“It is clear that, indeed, education must go digital. We are in the digital era, and it is staring us in the face. we cannot deny the fact that the Academy has been leading in the area of training and education.
“We are delighted that we are moving our training from the mundane, the regular to the innovative and of course you know that when it comes to E-Learning, it is more inclusive”, she said.
Commenting on the potentials and possibilities of the studio,
Aliyu Abubakar Wali the Head of the External Corporation Unit of the EFCC, stressed that the LMS would open the door of endless possibilities for growth, learning and innovation for officers of the EFCC, Nigerians, sister agencies and other stakeholders.
“Today, as we launch this e-learning studio and Platform, we are not just unveiling a facility; we are opening the doors to endless possibilities for growth, learning, and innovation.
This platform will play a crucial role in enhancing the capacity of our officers and staff, providing them with the tools they need to excel in their duties and uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
“To our esteemed guests from NACIWA, your presence here today is a strong endorsement of the importance of collaboration and shared commitment in our collective mission.
We look forward to exploring new opportunities for cooperation and leveraging this platform to further strengthen the bonds between our institutions,’’ he said.
He explained that the idea of the e-learning studio “began during a time of great global uncertainty—the COVID-19 pandemic. When the world came to a standstill, it forced us to rethink how we could continue to fulfil our mandate without interruption.
It was during this challenging period that our External Cooperation Unit, in collaboration with the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), took a bold step forward.
“Together, we piloted an e-learning platform designed to provide an alternative learning environment for EFCC staff, ensuring that their professional development could continue even during the lockdown”.
LEDAP National Coordinator, Chino Obiagwu (SAN) congratulated the EFCC on the completion of the project. He described the e-learning studio as an IT-driven system where people can learn from the comfort of their homes, offices or at their convenience with diverse strategies for delivering knowledge.
The commissioning of the studio was graced by members of NACIWA, representatives from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), MacArthur Foundation, ECOWAS, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), among others.
The commissioning of the studio was later followed by the physical inspection of the property donated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to NACIWA.
Olukoyede took members of NACIWA and other guests on a facility tour of the property.
