Drug Awareness: NAFDAC DG Visits Kebbi State
In line with the Northern Governors Wives Forum campaign and advocacy against substance abuse, the wife of the Executive Governor of Kebbi state, Dr Zainab S-Bagudu has organized a 3 day advocacy program.
The first day saw the training of 100 volunteer community drug councilors and advocates drawn from 21 LGAs of the state. They were inaugurated at a drug summit held on February 26th which brought together stakeholders such as Kebbi state Governor and his cabinet members, civil servants, politicians, traditional rulers, legislators,students, security agents etc.
The special guest of honour, Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola .C. Adeyeye presented a paper on the role of NAFDAC, problems the agency faces and advocated for a state of emergency be declared in the drug sector.
Other presenters were: Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court, Dr William Ebiti, Consultant Psychiatrist with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Kaduna and Mrs. Ruth O. Madu, Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Education- who spoke on the ‘Unplugged program’ which is one the initiatives Her Excellency is advocating to be implemented in schools in Kebbi state to build self esteem, confidence in children aged 10-14 and equip them with the skills to say NO to drugs as well as other vices.
Other speakers at the event were the state APC Chairman Barrister Attahiru Maccido, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria Ali Bunza, and Barr Tunde John of the NDLEA.
His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in his remarks thanked the Director General of NAFDAC and her husband Sen Olufemi Adeyeye the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate whom he described as his brother and former colleague for the visit. He said that the problem of drug abuse is such that everyone has to contribute their quota to help and promised to support this particular program. He said a social disconnect between abusers and society is one of the major issues why youths go into drug abuse and made emphasis on filling the existing vacuum.
H.E. Dr Zainab Bagudu expressed her appreciation to the special guest of honour Prof. Mojisola C. Adeyeye, Gov Bagudu for his constant support, all other members of the Kebbi state government and resource persons. In particular she thanked her team specifically SA Hayattu Bawa, Nafiu Magini, Maryam Ladan, Dauda Wambebe, Abu Kalgo and the wives of chairmen.
The entourage finally moved to the NDLEA headquarters where Prof Adeyeye commissioned the first dedicated female rehabilitation center in the state. Also to ease their logistics, Dr Bagudu donated a car to the command.
Source: Kebbi State Gov’t
