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Ikechi Nzeako
Ikeja Unique Lions Club and Ikeja Crystal Lions Club have taken a drug awareness campaign to Ogudu Grammar School, in the Ojota area of Lagos State.
The campaign was organized in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Centergate Technologies.
The theme of the event was “Say no to drugs, say yes to life: Securing the future of our youth.”
Speaking at the event, the president of Ikeja Unique Lions Club, Lion Peter Esene, said that drug abuse is increasing among students in country and stressed the urgent need to sensitize students against the menace.
According to him, young people are the future of the country, adding that it is critical to ensure that they secure their future by not abusing drugs.
He charged the students not to engage drug abuse in order not jeopardize their future.
He disclosed that the was part of the club’s activity for the month of August.
Also speaking at the event, the president of Ikeja Crystal Lions Club, Lion Eze Alala, called on parents and guardians to ensure that they know the friends of their children and wards and to take immediate action if they see any behavour that is suspicious.
He decried the rising incidence of drug abuse among students in the country.
According to him, abusing drugs steals the future of anyone who engages in it and he advised the students not to engage in drug abuse.
However, Engr. Sanni Oluwaseun Michael, the Chief Executive Officer of Centergate Technologies, a software development company that designs software applications, integrations, payment solutions and education technology, said that the company partnered to organize the event because it want to contribute to a future dug free Nigeria.
He disclose that Centergate Technologies is organizing a 30-day boot camp to raise 1,000 youths who will contribute to Nigeria’s development in terms of technology.
“So, we are doing an initiative where we train 1,000 youth so that we give back to society,” he said.
Giving a pep talk to the students at the event, Latifat Fatoba, a superintendent at NDLEA, stated that drug abuse is a choice and can do it or reject it, adding that every choice has a consequence.
She charged the students not to bow to peer pressure, adding that peer pressure is one the leading reasons young people abuse drugs, adding that they should stay away from bad friends and report anyone who asks or pressures to do a bad thing to their parents, guardians and teachers.
Fatoba also told the students that drug abuse is a criminal offence and carries a jail term.
According to her, drug abuse has negative consequence of the abuser, adding that reduces the abuser’s ability to make rational decisions.
