National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its efforts to combat drug abuse among youth by launching a campaign in secondary schools. The “NAFDAC Catch Them Young Project” was officially flagged off in Abuja, along with the inauguration of the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club.
As part of its mandate, NAFDAC aims to collaborate with stakeholders on drug reduction demand programs, including a robust drug abuse awareness campaign targeting secondary schools. This initiative addresses the rising menace of drug abuse among the younger generation, with an estimated 28% of Nigerians being victims of drug abuse, highlighting the urgency of such interventions.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Moji Adeyeye, represented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun, emphasized that the “Catch Them Young” program is specifically designed to curb drug abuse among secondary school students. Dr. Fajemirokun urged the students to become ambassadors of change, noting that the fight against drug abuse is a fight for the future of the nation.
Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga, Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances at NAFDAC, added that the program would be implemented across eight states, spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Government Secondary School Zone 4, Tudun Wada, Mr. Joseph Akoh, called on students to abstain from drugs and pledged the school’s full support in NAFDAC’s mission to tackle drug abuse. Students also shared their perspectives on the program, expressing a commitment to the cause.
Members of the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club are encouraged to actively participate in the agency’s efforts to disseminate information about its regulatory work, aid in combating drug abuse, and prevent the circulation of fake and counterfeit products.
Reporter: Funmilola Adeyemi, ADBN News.