NDLEA’s anti-drug campaign extends to Kwara schools

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is intensifying its efforts to combat drug abuse by extending its campaign to secondary schools in Kwara State. This initiative will be carried out in collaboration with schools participating in the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) school clubs.

The NDLEA made this announcement following a town hall meeting with principals of secondary schools in Ilorin, Kwara State. During the meeting, Mr. Ibrahim Bashir, the Kwara Commander of NDLEA, emphasized the importance of establishing WADA Clubs as part of the extracurricular activities in secondary schools to address the issue of drug abuse among youths.

As part of its strategy, the NDLEA intends to deploy trained volunteers to secondary schools to coordinate WADA activities and revitalize programs such as the ‘National Essay Competition’ to positively engage students.

The communique issued after the meeting stressed the crucial role of teachers in preventing drug abuse and educating students. It recommended that the Ministry of Education make religious studies a compulsory subject for students. Additionally, the meeting proposed using modern technology, including the development of an app and leveraging the internet and social media, to educate students about the adverse effects of drug abuse.

Mr. Yahaya Aliyu, the Zonal Commander of the agency for Zone ‘C,’ which includes Niger, Kogi, and Kwara States, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among all stakeholders in the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). The meeting also discussed the implementation of suggestion boxes in various locations, particularly in offices and schools, to gather ideas on how best to discourage youths from using illicit drugs and other harmful substances.