The acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, has stated that the commission will combat drug misuse and cultism among students.
During a one-day sensitisation programme in Yenagoa on Tuesday with the theme “The Dangers of Drug Abuse and Cultism,” Audu-Ohwavborua said the two vices were harming the future of the young population, particularly students.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Dr Abosede Ibitoye, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt.
The NDDC boss, who was represented by the Director of Youths and Sports, Mr Offiong Ephraim, said youths must avoid cultism and drug abuse to become useful citizens and contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region and the nation at large.
He explained that the campaign against social vices was meant to sustain the peace in the region by educating the youth, especially secondary school students, on the dangers of these anti-social activities.
Audu-Ohwavborua, who shared educational materials, including electronic tablets and bags, with students, urged them to become ambassadors and advocates of anti-cultism and drug abuse in their respective schools to help their colleagues shun such practices.
Earlier, the Bayelsa State Director of the NDDC, Theophilus Alagoa, observed that drug abuse went beyond taking dangerous substances like codeine or smoking Indian hemp.
Alogoa said, “When you take drugs from chemists or pharmacies without a prescription from qualified medical practitioners, you are engaging in drug abuse.”
He urged the students to help spread the campaign against drug abuse and cultism in their various schools.
