Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on Tuesday, highlighted the urgent need to scrutinize Nigeria’s cultural legacy and its potential influence on the nation’s perception of crime.
Speaking at the National Summit on Cyber Crimes, organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the governor stressed the importance of understanding how cultural factors shape societal attitudes toward criminal activities, particularly in the digital sphere.
The summit, which gathered a diverse array of stakeholders, featured contributions from subject-matter experts (SMEs) and individuals with lived experiences, offering deep insights into the growing issue of cybercrime in Nigeria.
Governor Abdulrazaq expressed optimism that these valuable perspectives would significantly contribute to Nigeria’s efforts in developing sustainable solutions and frameworks to combat criminal behaviour effectively.
He said, “In my remarks at the summit, I emphasised the need to interrogate our ‘cultural legacy’ and the impacts it may have on our perception of crimes. I am impressed with what the EFCC and the National Orientation Agency, among others, are already doing in the new media and in our basic schools to reshape the minds of young people on issues of crimes, drug abuse, and patriotism.
“For whatever reasons, it is unacceptable that some segments of our society do not see anything wrong with cyber crimes and related offences. As a country, we also need to become more intentional about creating a system that establishes a clear relationship between efforts and rewards and builds a national consensus around what constitutes acceptable behaviour and what is not, including at the level of political or religious leadership.”
The governor praised the EFCC for organizing such a crucial summit, expressing confidence that its outcomes would bolster the national effort to combat cybercrime effectively.
