From Michael V. Bolgent, Yola
Miss North-East Nigeria, Blessing Peter Akor, at the weekend added her star power to campaign against drug abuse in the country by leading a rally young people against the scourge in Jimeta and Yola, all in Adamawa State.
The rally, which began at about 11am from Luggere Primary School in Jimeta also featured artistes, actors, TV presenters, sportsmen and security agencies.
The objective of the rally according to the Miss North-East, was to make families and society listen to those prone to drug abuse as the first step towards helping them deal with the issue and lead healthy and safe lives.
Youths sported placards displaying information about the disastrous effects of intoxication on individuals and society. Placards with messages against illicit addiction and abuse and appeals for protection of young men and women particularly the teenagers were also on display.
Shehu Dankolo, the Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation Unit NDLEA Adamawa command, who spoke on behalf of the state commandant urged the beauty queen to continue her advocacy on the dangers of drug abuse.
“When you have sensitization programs like this, it would go a long way to sensitize our teaming youths, the parents and the other stakeholders, especially when we take into cognizance the dangers of drug abuse. Nigeria is becoming a dumping ground for narcotic drugs, hence sensitization programs like this are very important,” he said.
Dakolo also said that a research in one of the northern universities have shown that there is an increase in abusive drug intake which has made many to commit suicide, while others misbehave in the society; causing social vices like rape, armed robbery, poor performance in educational institutions and snatching of ballot boxes during elections.
He concluded by encouraging the beauty queen to continue to organise sensitization programs in collaboration with other beauty queens from the northeast region and beyond to on the danger of drug abuse to the health of individuals so “so that it can sink into our youths”.
In the same vein, a supporting beauty queen, Miss Comely Taraba State, Gloria N. D. Pajo challenged the youths to shun illicit drug intake and focus on building themselves with positivism so as to achieve their dreams.
Miss North-East in her appreciation and closing remarks maintained that she would not stop the campaign and but appealed to the Nigerian youths to say no to drug abuse.
“I am calling upon stakeholders and communities to continue to improve the lives of everyone blighted by drug abuse by integrating security and public safety with a heightened focus on health, human rights, and sustainable development,” the beauty queen said.
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