Top government officials, law enforcement officers, and educationists have enjoined students across Lagos to shun the twin vices of drug abuse and cultism so that they can attain success in their life, academics, and future career. This call was made at the second edition of The Eye Conference on Drug Abuse and Cultism organized by Seun Fakoya, Publishers of Ojodu Eye Magazine and The Eye Newspaper which held at Girls Senior High School, Orile-Agege LCDA, Lagos on Thursday 6th March 2024.
The conference had in attendance the Secretary to State Government, Lagos State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin as represented by the Director of Policy Analysis Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Lagos, Mrs Titilayo B. Omorodion; Honourable Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa as represented by his SSA on Education Matters, Hon. Aruna Isola Ogunsola; Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade as represented by CSP Yemisi Alli, CSP Abba Frank and SP Kuti Stephen; and the Executive Chairman of Orile Agege LCDA, Hon Johnson S. Babatunde as represented by the Vice Chairman, Orile Agege LCDA, Hon. Kafilat Toyin Pedro Akanni.
Others are the General Oversea of MFM, Dr. DK Olukoya as represented by Pastor Abayomi Gabriel; NDLEA Lagos Commandant as represented by CSN Dick M. Adunni; NSCDC Lagos Commandant as represented by CSC Yusuf Abayomi; District Officer of Education District 1 Headquarters, Agege, Mrs Akin-Oyelade T.A; President of National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Oki Samson; School Principals and Counsellors, among other guests.
Also gathered at the conference were hundreds of students from Government Senior College, Agege; Government Junior College, Agege; Comprehensive Junior Girls, Agege; Girls Senior College, Agege; and Girls Junior College, Agege.
The representative of the SSG, Mrs. Omorodion expressed her delight at the initiative. ‘I am very delighted to be here because the abuse of drugs is alarming in the state. The State Government is very serious about this matter. The State Government will continue to support anything that will make sure that drug abuse is tackled.’
Hon. Haruna Ogunsola who represented the Speaker, Hon. Obasa remarked that ‘the law prohibiting cultism has been passed and the sanctions are well spelt out. The Governor assented to it so anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law.’
The Vice Chairman, Orile Agege LCDA, Hon. Kafilat Pedro Akanni noted that The Eye Conference is a good initiative. ‘If we have series of conferences like this, it will help our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow. We are trying to eradicate drug abuse and cultism in our community, state, and country.’
‘Gone are the days when cultism is only in university, we have it in secondary schools and primary schools now. Bringing this kind of initiative will help children to be mindful of their environment and influences which could be a dent to their image and future’, she remarked.
In his address, the convener of The Eye Conference and Publisher of Ojodu Eye Magazine/The Eye Newspaper, Seun Fakoya noted that ‘The Eye Conference came to life from when we noticed the rate at which youths are getting involved in drug abuse in our communities. We started through creating awareness and sensitization on the side effect of these drugs.’
‘We move around different secondary schools because the rate is alarming among secondary school students. Though we cannot eradicate it but we can reduce it. This is our contribution’, Fakoya stressed.
Some of the participating students expressed their thoughts about the program to National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP. Okonkwo Chinonso, student of Girls Senior High School said: ‘I learned that it is bad to participate in drug abuse and cultism. I advise that we should not smoke or drink any hard drug.’
Favour Evelyn from Girls Senior High School said: ‘I learned that we should stay away from cultism and not engage in drug abuse. Any of my colleagues that is involved should stop because it can lead to untimely death’ while Ogunniyi Temiloluwa, a student of Girls Senior College said: ‘I learned that drug abuse is prohibited. I advise that, as students, we shouldn’t engage in it because it can kill dreams and aspirations.’
Also, Anya Joy, a student of Government Senior College said ‘I learned that as children especially still going to school, we shouldn’t be involved in drug abuse. It is too early, it could destroy lives. Prevention is better than cure’ while Augustine Gospel, student of Government Senior College added: ‘I learned about some of the factors that influence students into drug abuse include social media and that we are not to use drugs in an improper manner’ and Akande Moyinoluwa, student of Government Senior College stated: ‘I learned that we shouldn’t misuse drugs. I am grateful to the organizers, I would like this program to come up every year.
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