Advertisement

NDLEA, NITDA Commend NYSC Member for Drug-Free Schools Campaign in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have commended a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulhameed Yushau, for spearheading a Drug-Free Schools Initiative aimed at sensitising secondary school students to the dangers of drug abuse and substance misuse.

The awareness campaign was held at Parliament International School and Government Secondary School (GSS), Apo, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where students, teachers and school administrators participated in lectures, interactive sessions and educational activities designed to promote drug-free lifestyles among young people.

Speaking during the programme, the Deputy Commandant of the NDLEA FCT Command, Aliyu Omama, described the initiative as a timely intervention that complements the agency’s nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

Omama, who delivered a lecture on the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of maintaining drug-free learning environments, praised Yushau for using his service year to address a critical social challenge affecting young Nigerians.

He educated the students on commonly abused substances, the health, social and psychological consequences of drug misuse, and the importance of resisting negative influences that could undermine their academic and personal aspirations.

“Drug abuse remains one of the greatest threats to the future of young people. Initiatives like this help to educate students early and empower them to make informed decisions that will safeguard their future,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, a representative of the Director of Corporate Communications at NITDA, Mrs. Deborah Dada, applauded the corps member for positively impacting society through youth-focused advocacy.

She encouraged the students to channel their energy into acquiring digital, creative and entrepreneurial skills that would enable them to become productive citizens while avoiding drugs and other harmful activities.

According to her, technology and innovation present enormous opportunities for young people, and students should take advantage of such opportunities to build successful careers and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The initiative also featured an article-writing competition aimed at encouraging students to express their thoughts on drug prevention and awareness through creative writing.

In his opening remarks, the initiator of the campaign, Abdulhameed Yushau, said the project was inspired by his desire to protect young people from the devastating consequences of drug abuse.

“My passion for this advocacy comes from real-life experiences. I have seen young people with great potential lose their dreams, their health and even their lives because of drug abuse. These painful experiences motivated me to take action and contribute my quota to addressing the challenge,” he said.

Yushau noted that the growing prevalence of substance abuse among teenagers requires urgent intervention through sustained awareness, education and mentorship.

He identified peer pressure, curiosity, negative social influences and media exposure as some of the factors driving drug abuse among young people, warning that substance abuse often results in poor academic performance, addiction, mental health disorders, crime and violence.

He urged the students to surround themselves with positive influences, engage in productive activities and focus on developing skills that would help them achieve their future ambitions.

“Choose friends who encourage positive behaviour. Stay engaged in productive activities such as sports, reading, school clubs and skills acquisition programmes. Avoid risky environments and stay away from places or groups associated with drug use,” he advised.

A major highlight of the programme was the distribution of educational materials, including awareness flyers and branded jotters, to reinforce anti-drug messages and encourage continued discussions on drug abuse prevention within the schools.

The event also featured an interactive question-and-answer session during which students sought clarification on issues relating to addiction, peer pressure, prevention strategies and the long-term consequences of substance abuse.

The questions were addressed by Yushau and NDLEA Deputy Commandant Omama, who provided practical guidance on resisting drug-related temptations and making responsible life choices.

Principals, teachers and students from the participating schools expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing it as timely, enlightening and impactful.

The Drug-Free Schools Initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Youth Against Drug Initiative (YADI), NITDA, the NDLEA FCT Command, and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) as part of broader efforts to promote youth development, prevent substance abuse and build safer learning environments across Nigeria.