The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has warned youths to shun drug abuse and other criminal tendencies that could jeopardize their future.
The monarch said this in his palace in Ile-Ife when he received the National Co-ordinator of Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA), Dr. Hope Abraham Omeiza who visited him.
The monarch expressed his commitment to be in the vanguard of the war against drug abuse and pledged his support to VGADA.
Ooni said “I’m for the youths and I will always support positive initiatives like this. I’d like to appreciate the initiators of VGADA. Please keep it up and we will always lend our voice and support you in this campaign against drug abuse.
While speaking, Abraham intimated the monarch on the rising prevalence of drug abuse in the country and the relatively high percentage of female peddlers of illicit drugs in the south west.
Dr. Hope also highlighted the steps VGADA has taken to combat drug abuse through the sponsorship of Dr. Mike Omotosho.
“Our efforts to combat the menace of drug abuse include sensitization of youths through engagement on the social media, televisions, radio station and the newspaper.”
“We are embarking on policy advocacy by proposing bills to the committee on Drugs and Narcotics in the National Assembly. We are also curtailing drug demand reduction by engaging students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions of learning.”
“We are also visiting hotspots to educate drug users directly, and providing online platforms for direct and indirect counselling to help drug users.”
He explained that VGADA is partnering with various law enforcement agencies including NAFDAC, UNODC, NDLEA as part if efforts to curb drug abuse in the country.
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