The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has urged Nigerian universities to adopt Artificial Intelligence in their ethical and financial management systems to strengthen transparency, accountability and public trust.
Olukoyede made the call on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Kano while delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities in Nigeria.
He described AI as a necessary tool for modern institutional governance, warning that Nigerian universities could not afford to lag behind in the global shift towards technology-driven management.
According to him, universities across the country manage large budgets, tuition payments, TETFund interventions and research grants, but still face persistent accountability challenges.
“The EFCC has investigated cases involving inflated contracts, ghost workers and diverted students’ fees in tertiary institutions across the federation. Each case represented not only a loss of public funds but also a betrayal of the trust that Nigerian parents, students and taxpayers have placed in the university system,” he said.
Olukoyede said a university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future accountants and auditors, adding that institutions that tolerate fraud cannot produce ethical professionals for the economy.
“The university’s integrity is thus a matter of national security, and AI offers transformative tools to defend it,” he added.
The EFCC chairman said AI could help universities in fraud detection, automated auditing, payroll integrity, procurement oversight and academic integrity.
He cited some EFCC operations where technology played a key role, including Operation Eagle Flush in December 2024, during which the commission arrested 792 suspects in a seven-storey building in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to him, the suspects included 193 foreign nationals, comprising 114 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhs, one Pakistani and one Indonesian. He said the syndicate was linked to cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
Olukoyede urged university governing councils to establish AI and Digital Governance Committees to guide responsible adoption of the technology.
He also advised universities to develop digital integrity strategies covering finance, academic administration and data protection, while investing in broadband, cybersecurity, cloud systems and other digital infrastructure.
The EFCC boss further called for stronger collaboration between universities, the commission and other relevant agencies through joint training, intelligence sharing and digital governance support.
He also recommended the adoption of an AI Code of Ethics to protect privacy, reduce bias and preserve academic freedom.
However, Olukoyede warned that technology alone would not solve corruption or governance problems in universities unless institutional integrity is strengthened.
“No matter how sophisticated the technology might be, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the integrity of the human beings who will utilise the tools. AI will therefore not work magic for the ivory towers if the integrity deficit that is palpable among the workforce is not addressed,” he said.
He also cautioned against the risks of over-reliance on AI, including erosion of professional judgement, loss of institutional autonomy and cybersecurity threats arising from weak data management.
“The fight against corruption is a national project that depends on the integrity of every institution, especially our universities. The EFCC is ready to collaborate with you in training and intelligence sharing in the unwavering belief that integrity will lead Nigeria to greatness and transparency. This is possible. It is achievable,” Olukoyede said.
