By Nkiru Ifeajuna
Lagos – A movie producer and veteran actor, Paul Adams, on Saturday urged the youth to abstain from drugs and to be creative.
Adams, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Adams Paul Production Company, made the plea in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The actor said that youths were going into drugs at an alarming rate because of lack of encouragement and jobs.
“That is the crux of my soap opera running on TV called “Life Style’’ which is aired mainly on African Magic and some local TV stations, with 50 episodes.
“It is an anti-drug abuse campaign to showcase the problems, disadvantages and how a person involved in drugs suffers and destroys his or her life,’’ he said.
Adams said he wished that the youth were more involved in lucrative activities rather than drugs.
“Our youths must embrace meaningful ventures instead of taking to drugs or looking for ways to get involved in various vices,’’ he said.
According to him, the youths of this country must help themselves and be involved in positive ventures that will benefit them and the society at large.
He said that government would always work with individuals to bring about change in the society.
“Change is something I have passion for. Positive change in the society is needed, so as to move forward.
“We should be able to create awareness, so that government and individuals, companies and organisations, can sponsor some of these enlightenment programmes,’’ Adams said.
The actor suggested that artistes and companies should work together to showcase these efforts in helping to sanitise the youth.
“It is about teaching our people how to be decent.
“Drug abuse and couriers destroy lives and if youths, who are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow, are involved in it, then we will end up a bad nation.
“Youths need to be enlightened about these things and know that it is bad; that hard work pays,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Adams studied Graphic Designs at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and had been acting on stage for 30 years.
He acted in Zeb Ejiro’s “Ripples” and “Checkmate” produced by the Late Amaka Igwe.
Adams ventured into journalism and worked with Vanguard Newspapers as a cartoonist for 10 years.