Youths in Ikorodu West, in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch, held a five-kilometre walk against drug abuse in Ikorodu on Saturday.
Speaking shortly after the walk exercise, Mr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Chairman, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), advised youths to shun drug abuse, adding that such vices could hinder them from achieving their goals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths are in their hundreds, some carrying placards with the inscriptions ”Be youthful and useful, “Say no to drugs,” and “The safe world is peace.”.
Others are “Life is too sweet, “No let drugs abuse and cultism pick you up, and ” The world is a better place if we make things right.“ Do not endanger, just empower, “The safe word is peace; just speed it”.
Olanrewaju pledged that his administration would continue to engage the youths through empowerment programs.
“The essence of the road walk is to sensitise youths to drug abuse.
“What I will do now is a real empowerment, where they will be provided with tools, machines, and whatever is needed to be self-reliant,” he said.
Ealier, Mr. Jubril Olalekan, Chairman, National Youth Council (NYCN) Lagos State Chapter, urged youths to bring about the desired change in order to promote development in Nigeria.
Olalekan said the road walk was organised to amplify the advocacy and walk against cultism, drug abuse, rape, and other vices that are imminent among young people in Ikorodu and Lagos State.
“I want to believe that what we have done today is symbolic and resonates very well with young people and adults in the area.
“One of the ways that we can bring down cultism, hooliganism, gangsterism, and drug abuse is through advocacy,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Olajide Abiodun, Vice Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch, appealed to the government to integrate drugs and their effects into the education curriculum of primary schools.
According to Abiodun, parents should properly nurture their children. Hard drugs are dangerous to health, and joining any form of cultism is dangerous to them and their future generation.
Similarly, the convener of the walk, Mr. Taiwo Anuoluwapo, NYCN Ikorodu West LCDA, said the walk, which started from the place of the traditional ruler of Ipakodo, Oba Bashir Sontowa, culminated with sensitisation.
Anuoluwapo appealed to the federal government to provide jobs and engage more youths in skill acquisition programs.
“This walk is our third edition; this idea has reduced the rate of drug abuse up to 20 percent, especially in the Ipakodo and Ogolonto areas with high prevalence,” he said.
Present at the the walk exercise were officers of the Nigeria police, NDLEA. (NAN)
