Foundation, NOA, NDLEA Sensitise Secondary School Students On Drug Use

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it is committed to checking the scourge of drug abuse in the country by sensitising secondary school students on dangers of illicit drug use.

The Director- General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari said this at a programme organised for students by an NGO, Don’t Shame the Name Advocacy Foundation (DSTNAF), in conjunction with NOA and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Federal Government Boy’s College, Abuja.

Abari, who was represented by Robinson Okechi, Chief Programme Officer, NOA said the sensitisation was necessary as students by age 12 to 17 are already involved in drug abuse.

He commended the foundation for providing the platform to discourse one of the burning issues of national discourse which he said is a concern to the current administration which is against drug use, trafficking and related vices.

He said that the theme of the programme “Eliminating the scourge of Illicit drug use and Trafficking among the Youths “ is apt and commended the organisers for the campaign aimed at catching them young which informed the choice of the audience.

The NOA boss pledged the support and cooperation of the agency to the foundation adding that they operate an open door policy.

The representative of the NDLEA, Asst. Superintendent Narcotics, Oluwafemi Daniel described drug as a legal or illegal substance that affects the function or behaviour of a person.

He said that the agency had been engaged in a lot of programmes to check the use of drug especially among the youths.

He advised the students to abstain from drug use which he said affects their social behaviour.

Daniel said that drug can enter into the body through injecting, smoking, sniffing and swallowing adding that drugs damage the brains, liver, kidney and teeth of the users.

Amb. Joseph Ayalogu, former Ambassador Nigeria to Switzerland and former Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva said a lot of countries have strict laws against drug use and trafficking.

He advised the students to structure themselves to be responsible to themselves and the society by studying well and not engaging in drugs.

“There is very serious concern globally about drug. It gives a bad name to a country, so sensitisation is the key,” he said.

The Principal of the School, Mr Zacharia Magaji who was represented by the Vice Principal, Students Affairs (Senior School), Julius Faleye commended the foundation for choosing the school for the programme.

He said it was necessary that teenagers gain insight and knowledge on illicit drug and the dangers it poses to them and the society at large.

The President and Founder of the NGO, and also the organiser of the programme Adaku Dike said she was motivated by the high level of crime caused by drugs in the society.

She said she started the sensitisation in primary schools because even children in primary schools are not left out on the issue.

According to her, drug abuse is the reason for all the vices in the society such as kidnapping, killings, trafficking and the like and was optimistic the programme would impact positively on the students.

Dike said her ambition is to see a Nigeria free of drugs and called for partnership and support from governments, private and international organisations, and individuals to achieve her aim.

The Mayor, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ugochukwu Ohuonu said the group is using entertainment, which he said sticks more in the minds of people, to enlighten the students on the effects of drug abuse.

Two students of the school, Masters Donald Oboh (SS2A) and Abdullahi Shuaibu (SS2B) expressed delight at the sensitisation which had exposed them to the dangers of drug use.

They promised to sensitise other students on the need to stay away from drugs.

Our correspondent reports that the highlight of the programme was a drama presentation on the dangers of illicit drug and presentation of stickers on dangers of illicit drugs to the school.