Foundation mobilises 500 FCT students to fight drug abuse
By Philip Yatai
Al Masaareef Foundation, working to address gaps in education, healthcare and sustainable development, has mobilised 500 secondary school students to fight drug abuse among youths in Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The foundation’s initiator and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Hauwa Wambai, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at its Rise Above Conference with the theme, “United for a Drug-Free Life”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Wambai explained that each of the 500 students, drawn from 62 wards across the six area councils of the FCT, would be expected to train five other persons.
She added that each of the five would also train at least one person; a strategy expected to reach at least 2,500 youths with key messages against drug abuse.
Describing drug abuse as a menace to society, the founder says it also robs drug abusers of their integrity and self-respect.
According to her, drug and substance abuse leaves parents traumatised and devastated, while the youths, who indulge in the practice, are usually affected educationally, economically and socially.
“This is why today’s message is ‘Rise Above: United for a Drug-Free Society’.
“This means that the drug fight is not only for the NDLEA, who have the mandate to fight drugs in Nigeria.
“It is a societal issue that concerns parents, traditional rulers, religious rulers, the students themselves, and non-governmental organisations among others.
“So, united we stand at the community level, at the national level and the individual level.
“We all have to join our hands together to fight drug abuse and totally eradicate it in our society,” she said.
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said the prevalence of drug and substance abuse was higher among people between the ages of 25 and 39 years.
“This is the productive age group of any country. So, we are in a big mess with drug abuse in Nigeria.
“We need to start doing something as soon as possible,” said Marwa, who was represented by Mrs Chizoba Etuka, the agency’s Assistant Director, NGO and Liaison.
The NDLEA boss said efforts were ongoing to prevent, educate and treat drug abusers.
He identified prevention as the key to winning the war against drug abuse, adding that prevention should, however, begin early enough by catching the youths at younger ages.
“We are going to schools to educate students because we want to catch them young; we don’t want to wait until it becomes a big problem.
“We are being proactive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Josie Mudashiru, founder, JAM Intervention for Vulnerable Children and Climate Change Initiative, identified partnership as critical to reducing the prevalence of drug abuse among Nigerian youths.
Expressing concern over the rate of drug use among youths, Mudashiru says it is not enough to keep saying the children or the youths are the future of Nigeria.
“If we don’t do anything about it now, then we will not have who to hand over Nigeria’s future to.
“We want to try to catch them young so that they will know the effects of drug abuse and stay away from it,” she said. (NAN)
Edited by Moses Solanke
Published By
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Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent,
FCT Correspondent,
NAN Abuja.
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