Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges are increasingly grappling with the presence of ‘Yahoo Yahoo,’ a term denoting advanced fee fraud perpetrated by students. Campuses have become stages where luxurious lifestyles, funded by deceptive schemes, are fully displayed, luring more students into these risky endeavors.
Rather than dedicating themselves to academia, these individuals exploit victims to fund their ostentatious campus lives. This fraud trend attracts fellow students and undermines their focus on education.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ramped up efforts to combat this issue, raiding educational institutions and detaining students suspected of internet fraud. High-profile cases have emerged from Kwara State University to Obafemi Awolowo University, with numerous arrests reported by DAILY POST.
To combat this, some institutions are enforcing stricter rules. Ladoke Akintola University, for instance, has banned cars owned by students to deter the exhibition of fraudulent gains.
Moreover, the EFCC seeks to partner with university management, as seen in their recent collaboration with the University of Lagos, aiming to cultivate both academic and moral integrity.
According to a report by the Daily Post, UNICAL’s Okey Samson emphasizes the corrosive effect of this culture on academic dedication. He advocates for early value-based education to prevent corruption.
The ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ culture’s impact is widespread, promoting reckless and unethical student behavior. FUOYE’s Sola Balogun points out parental neglect or endorsement as part of the problem.
Comrade Sunday Abah, once with Benue State Polytechnic, calls for tough disciplinary actions and educational initiatives to deter the quick-money lure of fraud. He suggests that better awareness and campus surveillance could help tackle the issue.
Addressing this complex challenge, it’s evident that both educational reforms and stringent measures are essential to steering students away from ‘Yahoo Yahoo.’
