Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, has said it was risky for any nation to neglect its youths, describing them as “pillars of the society’’.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, stated this in Abuja, at the inauguration of Students’ Anti-Corruption Vanguards (SAVs) in 10 tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs.

Owasanoye, who was represented by the Director of Education in the commission, Mohammed Hashiru, said that youths were the backbone of every nation, and therefore, could not be joked with.

“This is because it will never develop, and any nation that is blessed with the high population of the youth is blessed for eternity unless it decides to misuse, abuse and destroy the life of its youths.

“On the other hand, a nation that is not blessed with high population of youths is heading for extinction.”

He said due to the importance of youths to the society, ICPC introduced many platforms for youth engagement in the fight against corruption.

“At the secondary and tertiary levels, we have Students Anti-Corruption Clubs and Vanguards, respectively, where we challenge them to debates and competitions,” he said.

Owasanoye said the commission was collaborating with students of tertiary institutions to help in eradicating harassment, sexual inducement and examination malpractice in the education sector.

“All these are vices we want to eradicate in the education sector and we cannot do that without the key stakeholders in the sector, which are the youths,” he said.

He said presently, there were over 47 Students Anti-Corruption Vanguards across the country, cutting across polytechnics, colleges of education and universities.

Owasanoye urged the youths to be good citizens and lead the fight against corruption in their fields of endeavour.

An Assistant Chief Superintendent in the Education Department of ICPC, Mfon Umoh said forms of corruption common among the youth included lack of accountability to parents on school fees and other monies.

Others, he said, were examination malpractice, internet fraud, rituals, cultism and sex-for-marks.

“Sometimes, the lecturer is not even interested in sex, but the students flaunt themselves,” he decried.

Umoh said corruption was the bane of quality and standard of education, and called on youths to shun the menace in all its ramifications.