Nigerian Corpers sensitise over 10,000 students against Tobacco smoking

Nigerian youth Corpers Sensitizes over 10.000 students annually against Tobacco smoking and other substance at private and public schools.

The Three extraordinary volunteer corpers working with a non governmental organization in northern Nigeria (The eye opener foundation) has trained over 10,000 students both at the pubic and privàte secondary school.

The aims is to raise more awareness to boys and girls on the dangers associated with cigarettes smoking. While stressing that Tobacco kills up to half of its users world wide.

All the corpers that embarked on this year campaign are all Passionate about educating the young once on harmful effects of tobacco smoking and other substance in the communities.

Mabia Uchechukwu Christian from university of Portharcourt who was posted to kaduna for his NYSC last year, told journalists that paid him visit at the center, how his biological father died of lungs disease in 2008 as a result of smoking Tobacco cigarettes.

He said, “It became mandatory for him and his theme to take awareness campaign to schools on the dangers of cigarettes smoking which causes Gum disease, Cancers, Premature wrinkles and grayish skin, Among others.”

The theme of his campaign is catch them young.

Mabia said, he has desire to work and provide selfless services to humanity and to educate boys and girls on the dangers of cigarettes smoking among teenagers ,adult and Women groups.

he have trained thousands of students on various preventive ways against drug abuse in the society and various schools .

“My goaler is to carry the universal prevention campaigns, and to also inaugurate the Tobacco/Substance Abstinence Clubs in 1000 secondary schools within two years.

“The Club would be a place where students will be thought on how to stay away and Abstainance totally ,and to help save peers group from using Tobacco and substance

“Good communication is key toward helping your children say no to cigarettes. This is by Don’t just talk at your children, rather talk with them and spread the messages,” he said

Umoh Esther efemena, another Youth corper pointed that she has visited many schools, where most of them have been trained on the harmful effects of cigarettes smoking and drug abuse.

According to her, my target is to take the campaigns to 500 schools annually and creat clubs that would be enlightened hundreds of students on preventive measures against tobacco smoking in the society.

She explained that Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, of which More than 7 million of them was as a result of direct tobacco intakes, while 1.2 million are the non-smokers, but are been exposed to second-hand smoke.

Umoh stressed that all forms of tobacco are harmful, include waterpipe tobacco, various smokeless tobacco products, pipe tobacco, marijuana amongst other.

Responding, the national president of the foundation Mrs magret Julius expressed satisfaction over the various contributions been made by the volunteer corpers that came from various states.

She said, these corpers deserved national award for been dedicated to service to humanity

Adding by saying that the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, that kills more than 8 million people a year, including 1.2 million deaths from exposure to second-hand smoke.

She then appealed to state and federal government to support organizations and volunteers that are taking cigarette and tobacco campaigns in other to strengthening their activities at communities, market places, mosque and Churches, so as to raise more awareness.