THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated the NAFDAC-Catch Them Young Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) project for students in South-West zone.
The inauguration of the project on Wednesday, at the Yejide Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, aims to sensitise young people, especially students, on the dangers of drug abuse.
The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the project focused on drug abuse education, and awareness campaign on menace of drug abuse in Nigeria.
Adeyeye was represented by the NAFDAC Director of South-West zone, Mrs Roseline Ajayi.
According to Adeyeye, research showed that one out of every four high risk drug users had been arrested for drug related offences.
She noted that drug abuse could arise from both prescribed medicines and illicit drugs.
According to her, the programme will help the students take informed decisions with regards to illicit drugs use, including alcohol consumption.
Adeyeye highlighted negative consequences of teenage drug abuse to include high-risk sexual behavior, mental health disorders, and bad grades in academic performance.
“NAFDAC has taken the campaign against drug abuse to the grass roots by re-establishing NCSC in secondary schools to collaborate with teachers to catch them young and prevent lives of addiction, destruction.
“NAFDAC’s mission is to mould a future generation that is not only empowered to be upright, but demand uprightness from others.
“We deem it expedient to immunise our society against counterfeits by re-orientating our youths through the activities of NCSC,” she said.
Adeyeye urged the students to use their membership of the club to assist in information flow on NAFDAC regulatory activities and promote fight against drug abuse.
She also enjoined the teachers to continue to work with parents and guardians of the youths to point out behavioural problems in a child.
Ajayi, in her remarks, noted that the programme was the first of its kind in the zone.
She added that the Yejide Grammar School is the NAFDAC D-G’s Alma Mater, hence, kick-starting the programme from the school was a way of giving back to her alma mata.
The Principal of Yejide Girls Grammar School, Mrs Titilayo Olalekan, said students’ participations in the programme would help them make informed decisions about their well-being.
“We thank the D-G, an old student of this great citadel of learning, for allowing these clubs to be established here.
“Your efforts to promote consumer safety and protect public health are truly commendable,” Olalekan said.
