Foundation decries spread of drug abuse among primary school pupils
Drugs
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 19, 2018 (NAN) Sheik Lawal Yusuf-Muduru, Founder, Nigas Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Foundation Centre, Kaduna State on Wednesday decried the spread of drug abuse among primary school pupils.
Yusuf-Muduru, the Coordinator of the Centre, also known as Malam Niga, made the observation in a paper titled: “Drugs and Drug Abuses with Reference to Youth” during a public lecture at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) main campus, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture, which was in honour of late Dr Yusuf Bala Usman, was organised by the Students Historical Society of Nigeria, ABU, Zaria.
“It is worrisome to note that the menace of drug abuse has spread to primary school, where primary three pupils are now engaged in taking hard drugs.
“If this situation continues and not properly checked, it will adversely affect the future of our children and indeed the future of Nigeria because children are the leaders of tomorrow.
“The best way to tackle the menace is to ensure synergy between government, parents, schools, and all other stakeholders to effectively address the problem.
“There are some people from outside who don’t want Africa to develop, hence the manufacturing and distribution of hard drugs to our continent.”
Yusuf-Muduru stressed the need for leaders in Africa do everything possible to avoid the influx of such drugs into the continent and advised that every African president must endeavour to resist all attempts by drug pushers into his country.
He faulted the seven years jail term introduced by Kaduna State government on those found guilty of drug abuse, advising that the victims should have been taken to rehabilitation centres for treatment, medication and reformation.
“Government should not rely on seven years jail term as the best solution to the menace, these drug abusers can be reformed if proper care is given to them and such care can only be found in rehabilitation centres.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to local, state and federal governments to come to the aid of centres such as ours.
“Particularly Kaduna State government, let them come in and collaborate with us, so that they can provide take-off grant and take-off kids to the reformed drug-addicts to enable them get something doing after leaving the centre,” he advocated.
The coordinator lamented that some parents would drop their children in the centre without any money or physical thing to help to take care of the children.
He said that as a philanthropist, he would continue with his reformatory assistance and skills acquisition training for those in the centre.
He said that so far, the centre had trained over 2,500 youths in skills including carpentering, wielding, computer literacy, liquid detergent making, sewing, tailoring, barbing salon and mobile phone repairs among others.
Yusuf-Muduru said that the centre, which was established in 2006, was now hosting 174 youths from across Nigeria who were undergoing treatment, medication, reformation and receiving training on different skills.
“Many of these reformed youths have now become self reliant, because from our research, we understand that some youths engaged in drug abuse due to lack of job and poverty.”
Prof. Alkasum Abba, former Vice-Chancellors, Adamawa State University, described the late Bala, an academician as a first class public educator, outstanding administrator, a courageous and transparent man.
Represented by Prof. Abdullahi Adamu of History Department, ABU, Abba said late Bala, who lived from 1945 to 2005 was a distinguished academician, a remarkable teacher, a profound researcher and a prolific writer.
He said Bala was a sibling of two important and respected royal families in Northern Nigeria, adding that his father was the son of famous Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko, while his mother was the daughter of famous Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero.
Abba said Bala’s ancestors fought in the 19th Century to bring about social transformation rooted in the Islamic philosophy of justice and fairness, through the establishment of Sokoto Caliphate.
The Head of History Department, Dr M. S. Umar also eulogised the legacies of Bala as an outstanding international giant.
While congratulating the history students for organising the programme, the HOD observed that the history of late academician per excellence was about to be forgotten.
Earlier, the President, Students Historical Society of Nigeria, Mr Dangana Salim-Ayuba described Bala as a father, mentor, nation builder and a man who transformed the history department to its present status.
He said that even though the present students of the department were not so lucky to meet him physically, they were happy to tap from his wealth of academic legacies.
The president encouraged the students to work hard toward attaining pinnacle in their respective fields of chosen career.
The students presented awards of excellence to Malam Niga and other dignitaries at the ceremony. (NAN)
KLM/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf