The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed concern over a motivational speaker’s request for $18,000 for a mentorship programme. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale cautioned Nigerians to be cautious about investing in schemes that could lead to trouble. The fee, nearly N30 million, has sparked controversy on social media. Investigations revealed that the flyer for the programme did not include account details and instructed interested individuals to send private messages.
On April 23, 2025, Stephen Akintayo posted on his Facebook page offering 10 slots for a one-on-one mentorship, priced at $18,000. The post promised access to a billionaire coaching community and 45 of Akintayo’s books. Responding to this, Oyewale noted that the programme showed signs of being a Ponzi scheme and warned against charging in dollars, stressing that it violated local laws.
Oyewale further stated, “It is not proper to charge in dollars. One of the campaigns we are doing is against the dollarisation of our economy. For anyone to offer a mentorship programme in dollars is a violation of the laws of the land.” The EFCC’s disapproval underscores the growing concerns over such financial schemes.
