• Group takes campaigns to public school
Pro-democracy group, Kwara Rebuilders on Thursday, described the rise in the cases of drugs and substance abuse in the country as disturbing, calling on parents, teachers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to join efforts with governments in combating the menace as it poses threats to state and national development.
The group made this call during the sensitization programme on drugs and substance abuse at Government Day Secondary School, Ojagboro organised to educate students on the dire consequences of using unprescribed drugs.
The programme was powered by her Ilorin East Local Government chapter headed by Comrade Muideen Temitope.
“People grow into abusing drugs for various reasons. But for young people, it is mostly due to ignorance, peer influence, and lack of monitoring from parents and teachers. The sad thing is it is on the all-time high with females students in pecking order across Nigerian secondary and tertiary schools. With such a reality, security and sustainable development is threatened. That is why sensitization is vital. Government and other stakeholders must continue to engage the teenagers to impact them with the right values,” co-convener Kwara Rebuilders Ibraheem Abdullateef remarked.
Speaking at the event, Mr Ashimiyu Kamaldeen, RAD explained that science has not proven the use of drugs effective in aiding assimilation, warning that the health hazards of using substances like codeine, rephnol, cannabis, among others are weighty on the health of users.
He explained that addiction to drugs causes physiological challenges and even death, encouraging the students to shun acts that are detrimental to their growth and livelihood.
On his own part, sociologist and tourism development expert, Hon. Suleiman Yusuf charged the stakeholders to ramp up efforts on teaching and mentoring young people.
He said the society needs to rediscover the old system which prioritises the collective discipline of the young people as against the modern, restrictive method.
He added that the increase in the number of drug abusers is accountable for the increase in crime rates in Nigeria.
Yusuf, while addressing the students, also enjoined students to desist from taking bad behaviours of the celebrities, noting that it will lead them astray. He urged them to emulate great leaders from state and country whose exploits are unforgettable.
The programme also featured an inter-class debate on the roles of parents and teachers in combating the spread of substance abuse as a measure to test the understanding of the students on the topic.
Reacting to the event, the principal, Alhaji Kazum Alabi lauded Kwara Rebuilders for the initiative, citing that the intervention is timely especially for senior students who are easing into adulthood.
Kazum promised that his school will intensify engagement with students on the topic to protect them from being misled into bad acts in their communities.
