…partners GAADACT
By Olanrewaju Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) State Commander, Barr Alumona Callys has frowned at the impact of contents awash the film and media space with suggestive appeals for youngsters to take to drug and substance abuse.
The NDLEA topshot, Barr Callys made the agency’s displeasure over the worrisome development known, while receiving the delegation of a non-governmental organization Global Advocacy Against Drug Abuse Crime and Trafficking (GAADACT) on a courtesy call to the agency’s Lagos office on Wednesday 29th of June.
Callys, spoke glowingly about the renewed efforts of NDLEA to frontally stem the tide of drugs abuse and illicit trafficking under the leadership of Brig Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) the National Chairman of the Agency.
He added that the Agency is open to partnership with stakeholders, who are ready to support the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
He advised role models in the society to be good examples, especially, those in the music and film industry so that the contents they put out there in the public will help to build and not corrupt people’s mind.
Callys said that: “Children and innocent minds are easily misled into drug from music and videos that promote such.”
It would be recalled that recently the NGO stated her resolve to tackle drug abuse during the annual commemoration of World Drug Day.
GAADACT one of the Civil Society Organizations that organized a program prior to international day, partnered NDLEA in solidarity with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) to address the anomaly.
In the NDLEA State Command Headquarters in Lagos, the visiting GAADACT directors, namely, Comrade Babatunde Ifenuga (LEAD-P), Prince Ogaga Wowo (Kobis Global Group) and Mr Elvis Obiajuru (Star Faces Productions) presented a magazine dedicated to commemorate World Drug Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking to the agency’s command head.
Comrade Ifenuga thereafter intimated the agency about the plans of GAADACT geared towards supporting the fight against drug abuse, crime and illegal trafficking.
Citing the various innovations conceptualized by the group as campaign tools against drug abuse.
Comrade Ifenuga bemoans the adverse effect of wrong use of creative content, he said the group will work with relevant stakeholders to promote and sponsor creative contents such as music, comedy, drama, poem and other creative works to inject value, dignity of labour, civic responsibility and positive lifestyle.
Prince Ogaga Wowo, CEO, Kobis Global Group and a Director of GAADACT, added that young people will also be engaged in sports and skill acquisitions to make them busy.
He explained that it is not enough to tell young people to shun drugs, they must be engaged positively.
“We will sponsor sport competitions and other positive, engaging activities to shift their gaze off drugs abuse .
Mr Elvis Obiajuru, CEO, Star Faces Production and also a Director of GAADACT, assured the NDLEA Commander that the NGO is set to right the wrongs, and limit the damages of negative products creative industry has caused to young minds.
“GAADACT will also organize competitions in secondary schools as means to involve the students in the campaign.
The winning schools and students shall be given handsome prizes.
“it is time for all students to take the message to their homes. More sensitisation on how to handle drug and prevent abuse must reach everyone.”
Other members of the NDLEA team present at the meeting include, Mr. Yusuf Augustine, Deputy Commander, Operations and Investigation; Mr Marcus Ayuba, Deputy Commander; Mr. Mallum Musa, Media and Advocacy Officer and Mrs Titilope Ogunbiyi, Drug Demand Research Officer.
