As part of their community development service, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, recently organised a sensitization programme for secondary school students in the state on the dangers of cultism and drug abuse.
The corps members are part of the 2017/2018 Batch A of the scheme and they organised the programme at the Central Epie Secondary School, Opolo, Yenagoa.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote who was represented by the General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics Division, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu explained that Nigeria has a population of 150 million and about 40 percent of the populace often engage in various forms of drugs abuse, which predisposes some persons to armed robbery, kidnapping and other social maladies in the society.
He lauded the partnership between the Board and the NYSC to sensitize the youths on the dangers of drug abuse and on the need to adopt healthy lives expected from leaders of tomorrow.
Halilu advised the youths to avoid bad influence from their peers, adding that taking drugs without prescription from qualified medical personnel amounts to drug abuse. In his words, “drug abuse leads to bad health, depression, loss of control and untimely death.” He challenged the Federal and respective state governments to provide qualitative education system for the citizenry, employment opportunities, affordable healthcare and drug control mechanisms.
In his presentation, the Project Accountant, NCDMB Headquarters building project, Mr. Sodiq Bukar urged youths to shun drugs and cultism as they are tools for destruction in this modern age. He said “I encourage you to be prudent with your finances and not to waste your resources on drugs because they will lead you to poverty.”
In her remarks, the Vice Principal, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Opolo, Yenagoa Mrs. Abah Karinade commended the Board and the Corps members for the initiative to eradicate cultism and use of illicit drugs amongst the youths. She pointed that the only way to aspire to economically developed state and Nigeria is for youths to shun drug abuse, cultism and other social vices.
