NACAT to Nigerian Youth: Resist the Temptation of Corruption, Choose Character Over Cash

As Nigeria’s economic storm continues to test the patience and perseverance of its youth, the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has urged young Nigerians to resist the growing temptation of desperation and uphold integrity as their compass in the face of financial hardship.

The call came on Tuesday during the Baze University Career Week in Abuja, where NACAT’s Programmes Manager, Joy Tomo, delivered a keynote speech themed “The Impact of Financial Stress on the Mental Wellbeing of Nigerian Youth.”

Commending the university for what she described as a “forward-thinking and timely initiative,” Tomo said the issue of financial distress among youths is no longer just an economic dilemma but a moral and psychological crisis eating deep into the nation’s social fabric.

Commending the university for what she described as a “forward-thinking and timely initiative,” Tomo said the issue of financial distress among youths is no longer just an economic dilemma but a moral and psychological crisis eating deep into the nation’s social fabric.

She painted a grim picture of the reality facing many young Nigerians who, under intense economic pressure, often turn to destructive coping mechanisms. “Under the weight of financial hardship, some young people turn to drugs for temporary relief, while others, lured by promises of easy wealth, fall into the web of corruption or trafficking networks,” she lamented.

Tomo explained that NACAT’s fight against corruption, drug abuse, and human trafficking goes beyond advocacy. It involves addressing the systemic roots of financial and emotional strain that push many young people toward moral compromise. According to her, promoting integrity, discipline, and self-reliance must become a national priority if Nigeria hopes to rebuild an ethical generation.

She urged students to approach their academic journey with patience and purpose, seeing it as a phase of preparation rather than a race against pressure. “Resilience is not the absence of stress; it is the ability to navigate through it without losing your values or direction,” she advised, drawing applause from the students.

Linking youth mental wellbeing to governance, Tomo warned that corruption in public offices continues to deepen the financial and emotional toll on young Nigerians. “When public funds meant for education, healthcare, and youth development are misappropriated, it robs young people of opportunities just as drugs rob them of potential,” she said pointedly.

She reaffirmed NACAT’s commitment to partnering with educational institutions across Nigeria to promote transparency, accountability, and mental health awareness among young people, describing such collaboration as “a necessary investment in Nigeria’s moral and mental future.”

Also addressing the audience, the Minister of Youth and Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, stressed the importance of empowering both male and female youths. He disclosed that the ministry is rolling out a national youth empowerment programme aimed at equipping every Nigerian youth with at least two practical skills, saying this would help curb unemployment and financial frustration.

Representing the Minister of State for Finance, Hajia Fatima Yusuf, Deputy Director of Training and Welfare, expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with private and civil society organisations in driving sustainable youth development initiatives.

The event, attended by NACAT officials, university management, and hundreds of students, underscored a growing national concern: how to keep integrity alive among the youth amid a suffocating economy.

In the end, NACAT’s message rang clear — though times are tough, character must remain tougher. Integrity, the organisation insists, is not a luxury but a lifeline for a generation standing at the crossroads of despair and destiny.