Youths in Ikorodu West in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch on Saturday held a five-kilometre walk against drugs abuse in Ikorodu.
Speaking shortly after the walk exercise , Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Chairman, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), advised youths to shun drugs abuse, adding that such vices could hinder them from achieving their goals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths in their hundreds, some carrying placards with the inscription; ”Be youthful and useful, “Say No to drugs”, “The safe world is peace”.
Others are “Life is too sweet, “No let drugs abuse and cultism pick you up, ” The world is 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 programmes.
“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, machine 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 the 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 resonate very well to young people and adult 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 government to integrate drugs and its effects into education curriculum of primary schools.
According to Abiodun, parents should properly nurture their children that hard drug is dangerous to health, 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 place of traditional ruler of Ipakodo, Oba Bashir Sontowa was culminated with sensitisation.
Anuoluwapo appealed to Federal Government to provide jobs and engage more youths in skill acquisition programmes.
“This walk is our third edition, this idea has reduced the rate of drug abuse up to 20 per cent, especially Ipakodo and Ogolonto area with high prevelence,” he said.
Present at the the walk exercise were officers of the Nigeria police, NDLEA. (NAN)
