Katsina: An NGO in Katsina State, Queen Dija Women and Children Awareness Initiative, has partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to educate female students on the dangers of drug abuse.
The founder of the NGO, Ms Khadija Saulawa, in her remarks during the event in Katsina on Thursday, said the exercise aimed to reduce drug abuse among the youths.
The event was part of their activities to mark the United Nations International Day Against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Saulawa said that the initiative came into existence in 2015, focussing on the drug abuse menace, especially among women, which was considered uncommon.
“Since then, I embarked on research to find out the main reason why women are involved in drug abuse. I focused on this because women are the backbone of every society.
“When women are involved in drug abuse, it’s an indication of a serious problem and danger within the society.
“Therefore, we embarked on an awareness campaign to reduce the menace, especially among the women and youths.
“When a woman cannot train the younger ones, who do you think can do that? We have to stand to our feet to say ‘no’ to drug abuse among women and youths,” she said.
Saulawa disclosed that the sensitisation exercise, involving about 50 female students, was brought to the schools to catch them young, hoping that they would also step it down to other students.
She called for a stronger collaboration with the government and other stakeholders to save the young ones, who were the potential future leaders.
Earlier, the founder of the Youths Initiative Forum on Drugs Abuse, Mr Usman Rafukka, called on the students to avoid associating with anything related to drug abuse.
According to him, as part of the activities, the initiative staged a rally across some principal streets in the state aimed at enlightening the public on the dangers associated with drug abuse.
In a lecture, an official of the NDLEA, Mr Mustapha Maikudi, told the students that drug abuse can push them to be aggressive and violent, causing memory loss and confusion.
He warned them that drug abuse can easily lead them to unwanted sexual desire, which can make them vulnerable to HIV/AIDs and can cause cancer and liver/kidney damage.
Maikudi advised them to shun any form of drug abuse, as it can cause someone to commit suicide, make them become a threat to others and also cause loss of individual dignity, respect and self-worth.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.’