Kwara State Governor, North Central Nigeria, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq has called on the Nigerian youth most especially students to always shun drug abuse, cultism and other actions that can ruin their future.
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He said the future of Nigeria is tied to how the youth turn out to be, urging them to make the right choice.
The Governor expressed these views in Ilorin, the state capital, at the Stakeholders’ Dialogue on
Stemming the Tide of Social Vices among Students: A Panacea for Positive Growth.
The programme was organized by the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Abdulwasiu Onidugbe.
It featured panel discussions where the panelists shared their views on how to tackle the menace.
“Cultism, cyber crime, drug abuse, and sexual abuse, among others, set you up for uncertain future of regrets, stigmatization, premature death, and inability to attain your dreams. I am pleading that you do not engage in any of it for the sake of your future,” the Governor said through the Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Dr Mary Arinde, who represented him.
AbdulRazaq noted that parents have made huge investments to make the Youth a successful person stressing that the way to pay them back is to shun any activities, associations, and affiliations that will make them cry.
The governor commended Onidugbe for the initiative, and appreciated all security agencies and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the discussion.
“This conversation is not about name-calling or public shaming of anyone who may be involved in any of these social activities we have talked about. It is about giving you fresh perspectives and opening your eyes to the danger associated with these activities, and asking you to make good choices that will give you a head start and make you a valuable member of our community,” he added.
The event attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Speaker Kwara House of Assembly, Engineer Yakubu Salihu Danladi ably represented by Rukayat Shittu; some cabinet members; State Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya; State Commander for NDLEA, Bashir Ibrahim Muhammed; Ilorin Zonal Head for EFCC, Harry Erin; Director, National Orientation Agency, Kwara state branch and a panelist, Olusegun Adeyemi; heads of federal and state institutions, academics, Corps members and students from across the tertiary and secondary levels.
The Minister of Youth Development, who is from Kwara, Jemilat Bío was represented by Prince Momoh Olugbenga; while Yinka Dallas stood in for the Minister of state for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
Onidugbe, in his remarks, said the dialogue was organized to raise awareness about the severity of the menace, share experiences and expertise, and collaborate on effective strategies and solutions.
He said it is unfortunate that social immoralities on campuses are on the high side, thereby undermining the efforts of the government and putting the students’ lives at risk.
According to him, there is the need for all key stakeholders to join hands in protecting the students and ensuring their success.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olaiya, for his part, said youth indulge in cultism and cyber crimes because they are in haste and desperate to achieve set goals, admonishing them to thread slowly.
“Some youths are too desperate to get things done. Don’t be in the fast lane. Try to stay on the slow but steady lane, because those who are on steady lane win the race,” he said, pledging to continue to work to rid the state of all forms of crime.
The State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bashir Ibrahim Muhammad called for effective and positive use of the Social media space as well as purposeful parenting.
He urged the Youths to stay away from vices capable of destroying their future and particularly shun cultism, drug abuse internet fraud and , gambling.
The NDLEA boss called on the state government to enforce a law on sexual harassment in the state as been practiced in Lagos so as to reduce such criminal tendencies and commended the state governor for involved women and the youths in governance.
A University don, Prof Mary Fajonyomi, in her lecture, said cyber crimes, drug abuse, examination malpractice and other forms of social immoralities are largely bred from “sick” homes, where she noted, lack the good morals.
Fajonyomi, who decried how poor parenting is fast crippling the society, and tasked all parents and guardians to be alive to their duties by properly monitoring their children, and guide their steps to succeed and become useful.
The state NOA Director, Adeyemi, in his contribution, said it is important for parents to ensure that their children are properly guided on the use of social media, failing which he said can expose them wrongly.
Prince Momoh Olugbenga, who represented the Minister of Youth Development, commended the state government for its commitment to youth development and how it continues to groom them for a better future.
He said the Federal Government is committed to engaging Nigerian youth positively through training and restraining in entrepreneurship and skill acquisition.
