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The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control, on Thursday, unveiled its Catch Them Young Consumer Safety Club organised for secondary school students to create an awareness campaign on the menace of drug abuse among Nigerian youth.
The inauguration, themed: “Your Future Counts: Say No To Illicit Drugs And Yes To Life,” was held at Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan, in Ibadan East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Delivering a keynote address on the occasion, the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye stated that the programme had become important because it is a segment of the nation that is most affected by youths, and by extension, teenagers.
The NAFDAC boss, who was represented by the South West Zonal Director of the agency, Roseline Ajayi disclosed that six schools across the senatorial districts of the state have been selected for the programme.
Adeyeye said that the Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) is one of the agency’s special public enlightenment strategies targeting the youths in society in its efforts to eradicate fake/substandard regulated products and enthrone a quality culture while employing the use of cutting-edge technology to track counterfeiters.
“NAFDAC has taken the campaign against drug abuse to the grassroots by re-establishing NCSC in secondary schools where we will in collaboration with the schoolteachers work with junior and senior secondary school students to catch them young and prevent lives of addiction and destruction.
“I enjoin you all to be agents of change by propagating the right virtues that can lead to behavioural change saying “We deem it expedient to immunize our society against counterfeits by re-orientating our youths through the activities of NCSC.
“You are urged to use your membership of NAFDAC of NCSC to assist in information flow on NAFDAC regulatory activities and promote the fight against drug abuse, and fake and counterfeit regulated products. NAFDAC’s mission is to mould a future generation that is not only empowered to be upright, but demand uprightness from others,” She said
In a paper presentation on the Role of NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club In Safeguarding The Health Of The Nation by the Assistant Director, NAFDAC, South West Zone, Olanike Ogunronbi stated that the programme is not only aimed at reducing the prevalence of drug abuse among youth but will also serve as a forum that will help people make informed decisions, public enlightenment, and sensitisation platform.
Ogunronbi said the objective of the club is to reorient the youth and redirect their energy away from anti-social vices and behaviour as well as being informed of the NAFDAC regulatory procedures.
A student, Okunade Bolarinwa the Head girl of the school, lauded the initiative pledging to sensitize her peers on the dangers of illicit drugs among youth.
Earlier, the Principal of the school, Titilayo Olalekan said the NAFDAC-Catch Them Young and NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club will provide the students with a unique opportunity to learn about food and drug safety and develop essential life skills.
She charged the students to take full advantage of the initiative not only to enrich their knowledge but also to equip them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
The event featured the presentation of souvenirs and information, education, and communication materials to the school principal, Mrs Titilayo Olalekan by the South West Zonal Director, Mrs. Roseline Ajayi.
