REPORTER: CHIKA KENNETH-ESONWUNE
School administrators Managers and Proprietors have been charged to provide students with all necessary support in order to harness their innate potential.
The Commander,National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Anambra State, Mr Charles Onubuogu gave the charge in Awka while celebrating students who participated in the twelve edition of the Agency’s annual quiz competition in Anambra state.
The visibly elated state Commander observed that studious, serious and intelligent students still exist contrary to insinuations in many quarters.
He urged all stakeholders to support and encourage students by giving them right exposures,rewarding excellence, providing opportunities to explore new grounds in their academics and encouraging them to move on even when they perform below expectations.
While urging students to desist from taking or associating with people who patronize illicit drug dealers,the commander described students as the most important stakeholders in the fight against illicit drug intake emphasizing that drugs are traps disguised as shortcuts to temporary excitement which robs it’s users of everything.
The Commander of Narcotics charged parents to be vigilant explaining that the most effective illicit drug resistant programme is a strong,loving and observant family unit.
Congratulating prize winners after the competition in which more than fifty Secondary schools participated,the NDLEA Anambra state boss reminded the students that bad company can reduce a highly intelligent student to a mad man on the street.
“For us at NDLEA, we are tackling this drug problem through a balanced approach of Demand Reduction and Supply Reduction. I took over the leadership of Anambra State Command eleven months ago and within this few months we have arrested a total number of five hundred and seventy suspects, seized about one point eight tons of illicit drugs, secured a total of one hundred and twenty eight convictions, rehabilitated one hundred and two clients, counselled four hundred and forty five drug users under brief intervention, covered more than one hundred and twenty schools/churches and communities including motor parks and corporate offices in WADA Sensitization programme within this eleven months.”
Some of the students who spoke with Radio Nigeria promised never to engage in illicit drug intake but tackle their academics headlong
Highpoint of the gathering was the presentation of laptops,Television sets,Stand Fan and cheques covering the students 2027 WAEC/ NECO and JAMB registration fees.
