Tinubu’s aide, lawmaker, others caution school children against drugs, crimes
President Bola Tinubu’s Personal Assistant on Constituency Affairs, Alhaja Khadijat Kareem-Omotayo and other youth advocates on Friday advised school children against hard drugs, cyber crimes, cultisms and other social vices.
Kareem-Omotayo made this plea at a symposium organised as part of a month-long Femi Gbajabiamila U-16 Football Competition for Secondary Schools in Surulere area of the state.
The tournament was organised by a third-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Desmond Elliott, to dissuade school children from social vices.
The symposium, which pulled together more than 2,500 students drawn from 58 secondary schools, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Describing the symposium as apt, Tinubu’s aide, who commended Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President and Elliott, said that every well-meaning Nigerian must be passionate about young children, in order to secure a bright future for the nation.
“I am delighted with this kind of programme to dissuade our children from vices capable of truncating their dreams.
“Our wish is to see these children succeeding in their endeavours and contribute their quotas to make Nigeria a great nation.
“We want to appeal to the children to remain focused and stay off drugs, cyber crimes, cultism, bullying, and others vices,” Kareem-Omotayo said.
She urged parents, guardians, teachers, school proprietors and other stakeholders not to neglect the children but to keep a close watch on them.
Speaking, Elliott, representing Surulere Constituency I at Lagos Assembly, said that the nation could not afford to abandon its very important young population, and expect sustainable future
Elliot, Chairman, House Committee on Works, and Nollywood actor said that the needs of school children should not be neglected in order to guarantee hope for the nation.
“We must be more proactive in dissuading kids from taking or getting access to these hard substances. It is our job to do it, that’s the reason for this campaign.
“This is one of the greatest initiatives, bringing a lot of students together to advise them not to go into all these social advice. We must keep engaging Nigeria’s future leaders.
“Drugs are things that deprive them from getting to where they are meant to get to,” Elliot said.
He said that, as a representative of the people, efforts had been made to also engage youths in sports to keep their minds away from drugs and vices.
Elliot called on parents, corporate organisations, and other stakeholders including media to join hands together in the fight against illicit drugs, cyber crimes, cultisms bullying, and other vices.
“It is our duty, we can build them up together and positively. We can make a change. We must not shy away.
“Collectively, we can build a virile nation to make sure that the future of this country is brightened. And that is my dream..
“That there is hope for this country, which is the reason why some of us decided to come and serve. We must build the young ones for the future,” he said.
Also corroborating, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, said: “We know at this tender age is when our youths and our students start to get peer pressure to be pushed towards drugs and cultisms.”
Commending the organisers for targeting the youth, the demography he described as bedrock of the society, Ogunlende, said that the initiative aligned with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus agenda.
According to him, it is important for government officials, private organisations, parents, teachers, influencers and other leaders in the society to come together to preach the same message on drugs and crimes.
Dr Oluwatoni Adeyemi, a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health said no effort should be spared in amplifying impacts of drug abuse and vices on youths’s physical, mental and social health.
Also, admonishing the young children, a former Super Eagles Player, Mutiu Adepoju, who applauded Gbajabiamila and Elliott, advocated continuity of awareness campaign against drug abuse among youngsters.
The Chief Imam and Chairman Council of Imams and Alfas, Surulere Local Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Mustafa said that initiative would go a long way in making the society better ans safer.
The symposium brought together former footballers, actors, actresses, and musicians,among other stakeholders to educate the students on the danger of vices.
The tournament, kicked off on Oct. 31 with group matches among selected schools in Education District IV, will have its grand finale with prize-giving ceremonies on Nov. 24.
