The Cardinal John Onaaiyekan Foundation and The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria have called for good parenting as solutions to addressing the increasing rate of Drug abuse among youths in the country.
Panelists across social strata, religious organisations, security agencies, youth groups and concerned Nigerians met in Ikorodu under the auspices of Cardinal Onaiyekan foundation for peace, COFP and The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation, one day programme on Curbing Drugs Abuse among Nigerian Youths.
The intervention programme organised in Ikorodu through one of the COFP ambassador, Hajia Toafeqah Fagbolade was an eye opener on the high rate of Drug abuse and its negative consequences on the Nigerian society.
Guest lecturer Barrister Muhammad Bashirudeen Badru, a lecturer at the Nigerian Police University, Kano, speaking on the topic : “Drug Addiction and Youth Dereliction ; The Faith based Organisation”, stressed the need for re-orientation of the Nigerian Youths to have a good family upbringing by parents.
He also decried the influence of music, social media and peer group pressures as some of the factor responsible for increase in drug abuse by youths.
According to Barrister Badru, open display of and drinking of illicit drugs by musicians and popular artistes are of great disservice to the psyche of youths and Nigerians.
He called for the use of local languages to pass information on drug abuse and teaching of drug related issues in the school curriculum.
The representative of the Lagos state government, Dr Rashidat Umar urged parents to detect early signs of drug abuse in their children instead of focussing on pursuance of wealth.
Medical Consultant from federal medical center, Ido Osi, Dr Taofeek Sanni explained the effects of use of misuse of drugs on the society.
Other panelists including the president National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State, Biliamin Oba, Reverend Mother Akerele, Commander of NDLEA in Ikorodu and other stakeholders support the introduction of drug test among students as suggested by the NDLEA boss, General Buba Marwa.
The highlights of the event were a dissection of the lead paper by Guest lecturer and a video of a young drug addict not rehabilitated.
Lateefah Ibrahim
