By Uche Nwosu
A non-governmental organization, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), has called on the governments across the federation to take more pragmatic approach in prosecuting the war against substance and illicit drug abuse in the country.
The organization, which spoke through its Umuahia chapter President, Mr Eze Nwosu, suggested that surveillance and information gathering particularly in secondary and tertiary institutions of higher learning in the country should be pivotal if the battle against drug and substance abuse would be won.
The President spoke during a one-day visit by members of NAS to Ibeku High School Umuahia, Abia State capital where he described the various forms of hard drugs as 鈥渨eapons of mass destruction鈥, warning that unless students are extricated from them through moral instructions, parental instruction, seminars on its dangers etc, the future generation of Nigerian youth would be doomed.
Members of NAS known also as the Pyrates Confraternity were in Ibeku High School as part of their community outreach campaign aimed at educating young minds and sensitizing them on the dangers of drug abuse, addiction, prostitution and other immoral behaviours prevalent among school age children in the society.
The outreach, whose theme was, 鈥淪top Drug Abuse Now,鈥 attracted speakers with vast experience in education, social welfare and medicine and also featured a question and answer session.
Nwosu emphasised the critical need to reach the adolescent early, explaining that addiction often starts in secondary school years. His word, 鈥淭his campaign is part of our continuous commitment to societal development. We want the young people to understand that they have a choice and that choice should be a healthy, drug-free and responsible life鈥.
The Abia NAS President used the opportunity to highlight the organisation鈥檚 broader social impact initiatives, naming them to include outreaches to major hospitals where it recently assisted in offsetting the medical bills of some indigent patients etc.
鈥淥ur mission goes beyond education; it鈥檚 about compassion and real change in the lives of people,鈥 he disclosed.
He said, 鈥淢any of our members are professionals in many field of human endeavour such as doctors, engineers, educators; we鈥檙e succeeded because we chose to live a drug-free life. You too can so do鈥.
鈥淎t a time when drug addiction among youths is rising globally, local initiatives such as this represent meaningful efforts to prevent societal decay at its roots. By addressing
drug abuse in schools, NAS is not only reinforcing its historical values but actively shaping a more conscious, responsible generation of Nigerians鈥.
Also speaking at the event, one of the NAS members, Mr Uche Nwagbo, encouraged the students to focus on their studies in order to have bright future, even as he enjoined them to steer clear of harmful substances that would ruin their future.
Responding on behalf of the Ibeku High School, Mrs. Victory David, the school鈥檚 Guidance and Counseling teacher who represented the principal, expressed gratitude to the organisation for their meaningful engagement with the students.
鈥淭his outreach is timely and highly valuable. Our students need continuous guidance to navigate the temptations of adolescence,鈥 she stated.
During the question and answer session, the students who excelled, such as Ogazi Emmanuel, Emenike Ihuoma, and Daniel Precious, all in SS1, were given special gifts in recognition of their attentiveness and knowledge.
While thanking the benefactors, Daniel Precious 鈥淚 have learned that addiction doesn鈥檛 just affect your body, but your dreams too. Today鈥檚 programme has opened my eyes on the dangers of drug abuse鈥.
The highlight of the event was presentation of some gift items to the staff and student of the college. Among the NAS members present were Engr. Henry Ugorji, Dr. Ekene Okwa, Mr. Chukwunenye Nwaubani, and Mr. Emeka Uta.