The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have praised a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulhameed Yushau, for spearheading a Drug-Free Schools Initiative to sensitise secondary school students to the dangers of substance abuse.
The awareness drive 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 activities designed to promote drug-free lifestyles among young people.
In his lecture, Deputy Commandant of the NDLEA FCT Command, Aliyu Omama, said the program complements the agency’s nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign and commended Yushau for using his service year to address a critical social challenge affecting young Nigerians.
Omama educated the pupils on drug-free learning environments, commonly abused substances, the health, social and psychological consequences of drug misuse, and the importance of shunning behaviours 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,” the commandant noted.
A representative of NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Deborah Dada, applauded the corps member for positively impacting society through youth-focused advocacy, and encouraged learners to channel their energy into acquiring digital, creative and entrepreneurial skills.
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.
Campaign initiator, Abdulhameed Yushau, said his desire to protect young people from the devastating effects of substance misuse inspired the project. “My passion comes from real-life experiences. I have seen young people with great potential lose their dreams, health, and even lives due to drug abuse.”
Yushau identified peer pressure, curiosity, negative social influences and media exposure as some of the factors driving drug abuse, warning that substance abuse often results in poor academic performance, addiction, mental health disorders, crime and violence.
He said the increasing prevalence of substance abuse among teenagers requires urgent intervention through sustained awareness, education and mentorship, advising students to engage in productive activities and focus on developing skills that would help achieve their ambitions.
“Choose friends who encourage positive behaviour. Stay engaged in productive activities like sports, reading, school clubs and skills acquisition programmes. Avoid risky environments and stay away from places or groups associated with drug use,” the advocate counselled.
During the interactive session, students’ questions about addiction, peer influence, prevention and consequences of substance abuse were addressed by Yushau and Mr. Omama, who spoke on resisting drug-related temptations and making responsible life choices.
There was also an article-writing competition, which encouraged students to express their thoughts on drug prevention and awareness. Principals, teachers and students from the participating schools described the campaign as enlightening and impactful.
A major highlight of the program 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 Drug-Free Schools Initiative is being implemented alongside the Youth Against Drug Initiative (YADI), NITDA, the NDLEA FCT Command, and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) to promote youth development, prevent substance abuse and build safer learning environments across Nigeria.