By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is to partner with Counselling and Human Development Centre, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria on the sensitization and awakening students on the danger of drug addiction.
Brig.General Muhammad Buba Marwa (rtd) Chairman of the agency disclosed this at a Sensitization workshop organized by the Centre in collaboration with International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) Nigeria office Abuja held at the University’s Assembly hall.
Gen. Marwa who was represented by Mr. Otumba said, NDLEA has passion to partner with the institutions of higher learning such as ABU Zaria because of its importance to the youths and general public.
He said, most of the cases of drug abused is sweeter because it is a group meeting as a single person will not be enjoyable.
The NDLEA boss said, in Lagos state alone 33% of the people are drug users and one out of four drug users are woman while 10m youths in the last 16 years in Nigeria are drug users.
He advised University management to facilitate for testing students when they returned from vacation and when they are going back home because campuses must be safe for future generation.
In his remarks, the University Vice Chancellor Prof.Kabiru Bala said, partnering with NDLEA is a welcome development and it will assist the University’s Counselling Centre in controlling and sensitizing students on the danger of drug abuse.
Prof. Bala said already the centre in collaboration with the Security Unit and Students Affairs directorate are very much active and they are in control of the situation in the University.
Speaking on the general overview of the subject matter, Prof. Taiwo Lateef Sheikh of the department of Psychiatric ABU Zaria said mental health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescent through adulthood.
He said maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to live a higher quality life and everything we do and every emotions we feel relates to our well-being.
According yo him, it is important for everyone to achieve optimal well-being in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.
Prof. Sheikh said mental health problems interfares with a persons cognitive, emotional OE social abilities but may not meet the criteria of an illness disorder.
“Mental health problems often occur as a result of life stressors and are usually less severe and of shorter duration than mental disorders although they may develop into mental disorder”.
In his message the emir of Zazzau Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli through Sarkin Yarbawan Zazzau Barrister Ishak Bello said the sensitization programme is timely and it is very important because the University is a combination of people from different diversity.
Emir Bamalli, charged parents to always monitor their children and know the kind of friends they are associating with.
He said, the fight against drug abuse is a collective responsibilities of everyone in the society and each have a role to play.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre Dr. Sa’adatu M. Makarfi said, the workshop is aimed at awakening students on the danger of drug abuse and addiction.
Dr. Makarfi said, partnering with NDLEA with the centre help them in discharging their responsibilities effectively which already they are in control of the situation in the University.
The Director called on the NDLEA to assist the centre with modern facilities to enabled them have easy and quick discovery of drug users in the Campuses.
