By Victor Nwachukwu
Owerri – The Wife of Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo, Ebere, has admonished secondary school students in the state to support government’s efforts to achieve a drug-free society.
She gave the charge on Wednesday, while addressing students at a conference organized by the Imo chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) in Owerri.
Ihedioha, who was represented by her Special Assistant on Communications and Programmes, Mr Martin Onyekwado, urged the students to avoid being lured into drug abuse by their peers.
She encouraged them to be bold enough to stand out from the crowd no matter how difficult and build a generation of drug-free Imo citizens.
“The future of every nation is her youth. To build a drug-free Nigeria, we must begin by building a drug-free Imo because charity begins at home.
“One of the biggest challenges young ones face is peer pressure and provided you are bold enough to resist it, then a drug-free generation of Imo citizens is possible,” Ihedioha said.
The ACPN Chairman, Mr Nkem Anaele, pledged the association’s continued commitment to the fight against drug abuse.
Anaele also promised to partner with relevant government agencies to fight the menace.
Also, the Imo Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr Nse Inam, outlined the negative effects of drug abuse to include cognitive impairment and destruction of social norms.
Inam, who was represented by an officer of the command, Mrs Lucy Nwankpa, assured the students that avoiding drug abuse would keep them free from vices, such as stealing and unimaginable health challenges.
He further advised them not to form friendship with arrogant youths, “who are chronic liars and unnecessarily secretive and angry,” adding that drug abuse often led to crime.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that students that participated in programme were drawn from Government Secondary School, Owerri, Emmanuel College, Girls’ Secondary School, Ikenegbu and Young Scientists’ College, Owerri. (NAN)
