The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken the fight against drug abuse to secondary schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration of the project, tagged:” NAFDAC-Catch Them Young Consumer Safety Club (NCSC), was held at Ajibode High School, Ibadan on Thursday.
The project was flagged off for secondary school students in the southwest zone in January.
The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the programme aimed to sensitise young people, especially students, on the dangers of drug abuse.
Adeyeye, represented by the NAFDAC director of South-West zone, Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, said the project focused on drug abuse education and awareness campaign on the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria.
Adeyeye emphasises that the fight against drug abuse was a fight for the future of Nigeria.
According to her, the programme would help the students to make informed decisions about illicit drug use, including alcohol consumption.
Adeyeye highlighted the negative consequences of teen drug abuse, which include high-risk sexual behaviour, mental health disorders and bad grades in performance.
“NAFDAC has taken the campaign against drug abuse to the grassroots by re-establishing NCSC in secondary schools to collaborate with teachers to catch them young and prevent lives of addiction, destruction.
“NAFDAC’s mission is to mould a future generation that is not only empowered to be upright, but demand uprightness from others.
“We deem it expedient to immunise our society against counterfeits by re-orientating our youths through the activities of NCSC,” she said.
Adeyeye urged the students to use their membership in the club to assist in information flow on NAFDAC regulatory activities and promote the fight against drug abuse and fake regulated products.
She also enjoined the teachers not to be judgmental but to always create an enabling environment for students to ask questions.
“Don’t stigmatise any student using drugs but offer non-judgmental support,” she said.
Ajayi, in her remarks, said the agency also sensitised the public, including market people, on the dangers of consuming dangerous and illicit drugs.
Ajayi stressed that the agency was concerned about the future of Nigeria, which is the young people.
The principal of Ajibode High School, Mrs. Adedeji Oyepeju, hoped that the project would yield a fruitful result.
“We hope that this will be fruitful, save students and make the society a drug-free world,” she said.
One of the students from S.S 2, Miss Victoria Adetona, said the programme taught her to be self-content and avoid peer pressure and illicit drug use.
