The Federal Government has said it is strengthening its use of digital-economy initiatives to curb corruption among young Nigerians, as part of a wider national effort to promote integrity and accountability. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day.
Speaking at the event organised by the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR) domiciled at the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Fagbemi said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deliberately placed technology, innovation training and digital-skills development at the centre of its anti-corruption plan for the youth. The theme of the event was Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.
Fagbemi, who delivered the keynote address, explained that the Federal Government believes young people who are empowered, skilled and economically engaged are less likely to fall into corrupt practices. He pointed to programmes such as the 3 Million Technical Talents Programme (3MTT) and the recently launched Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), noting that they are already equipping millions of young Nigerians with ICT and digital-innovation skills that help reduce dependence on patronage networks.
He stated that a major goal of the government is to use digital literacy, tech entrepreneurship and innovation-driven training to build a generation of globally competitive young Nigerians who are resistant to corruption. According to him, a hopeful youth is harder to corrupt; an engaged youth is harder to mislead; and an empowered youth is a powerful force for national transformation.
Beyond digital-skills training, the AGF highlighted ongoing efforts to expand educational access through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while programmes like the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) and the iDICE initiative are providing funding, mentorship and training for young innovators across technology, entertainment, agriculture and design. He added that the inclusion of young people in governance through appointments and civic-engagement channels was also a strategic approach to strengthen transparency and integrity in public service.
Fagbemi called on stakeholders to intensify actions that integrate anti-corruption values into school curricula, establish integrity clubs, mentor young leaders and deploy ICT tools that encourage transparency, whistleblowing and public accountability.
Earlier in her remarks, the Head of TUGAR, Mrs Jane Onwumere, said the gathering was meaningful because it reflected the shared understanding that the future of integrity in Nigeria heavily depends on young people. She said the theme was a call to action and a reminder that youth are not only beneficiaries of good governance but co-architects of it. Onwumere added that corruption has affected lives and the economy in many ways, pointing to the japa wave that has seen many young Nigerians leave the country in search of better opportunities. According to her, this trend has drained human capital, weakened families and affected one of the fundamental pillars needed to sustain anti-corruption efforts.
In his speech, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, restated the agency’s commitment to empowering youths as advocates for accountability and as active partners in shaping the future of integrity in the extractive sector and other areas. He said corruption undermines growth, distorts resource governance and increases inequality, but a united and informed generation can dismantle these barriers. Adar added that NEITI will continue to expand civic education, strengthen reporting mechanisms, support youth-led innovation and create more platforms for engagement with young professionals, students and entrepreneurs.
