The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has tasked state governments to adopt the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) designed to create drug abuse awareness in their schools’ curriculum.
Mr. Nwankpa Chinazom, the Cap’n of ELPASO SSO Deck, Ekiti and Ondo State chapter of Pyrates Confraternity, made the call during a debate organised by the association for the students of Ijapo High School and Baptist High School, all in Akure on Thursday.
The topic of the debate was Drug Abuse Among Youths; Beneficial or Not?
Chinazom said that it was imperative for all state governments and relevant stakeholders to intensify more efforts and ensure that youths shun all vices attributed to drug abuse in school and the society at large.
“Drug abuse is something that we must continue to talk about and we will not have done enough as long as the menace of the use of hard drugs persists among our youths, especially among teenagers.
“So, a lot of our youths are roaming the streets mad, a lot of them leave school, have psychological problems such as depression and some even get involved in a lot of vices due to drug abuse.
“We call on state governments and state ministries of Education to adopt the curriculum NDLEA has designed, as it has inbuilt drug abuse awareness lessons so that student will learn them in the classroom.
“Some state governments have adopted the curriculum while some have not, so if state governments could include it in their school curriculum, it will help curb the menace of hard drugs in our society,” he said.
While speaking on the debate, Chinazom, who said that the competition was the second in their debate Advocacy series in the state, explained that it was organised to revive the debate culture among secondary school students and ably sponsored by the Elpaso SSO (Ekiti/Ondo) and Americana 1 (Southwest Texas, USA) Chapters of NAS.
“As an association, we believe that if we catch them young, we will be able to reorient the students values to make sure that they are set on the right path,” he said.
Mr Callys Alumuna, Acting State Commander of NDLEA, who was represented by Mr. Steward Samuel, Senior Narcotic Officer, Ondo Command, appreciated the Pyrates Confraternity for its collaboration in order to end drug abuse in schools and society.
According to him, the issue of the fight against hard drugs is not a one man business and it is not only the business of NDLEA.
“Parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders should come out and join hands in fighting this hard drugs abuse menace that is eating deep into the society, especially among our youths,” he said.
The duo of Mr Akinmoju Taiwo, principal, Baptist High School, Akure and Mrs Esther Olowoparija, Vice Principal, Administration, Ijapo High School, also in Akure, who appreciated the Pyrates Confraternity for the debate, said that it was educating to not only the students but also to teachers to know the effect of hard drugs in the society.
“There is no gain saying that hard drug abuse is not beneficial and is not good to be used by students.
“We implore our students, and the society at large, not to involve in the use of hard drugs because it has harmful effects” the duo said.
A Multimedia Projector and Projector Screen was presented to each of the participating schools by the Pyrates Confraternity, even though Baptist High School came first in the debate.
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