Commander Ahmed Mamuda of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Rivers, on Wednesday tasked secondary school principals to sensitize their students to the prevention and consequences of drug abuse.
Mamuda gave the advice during a town hall meeting organised by the agency for secondary school principals in the state at the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport).
The commander said that the program with the theme, “Roles of principals to combat drug menance in schools,” was timely to war against drug abuse.
Mamuda said that the aim of the program was to sensitize the principals and the students to the consequences of drug abuse and how to handle the challenges.
He disclosed that another aim of the program was to create awareness on the new emerging drug abuse like the trending balloon drugs or the inserting of drugs in soft drinks by young people.
Mamuda stated that the sensitization of the principals through War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) fitted into the distinct roles they played in stirring the course towards a safer and healthier educational environment.
He emphasized on their leadership advocacy and commitment to fostering a culture that would guide students against the appearance of the substances.
Mamuda explained that the secondary school management was a critical stakeholder in both behavior and academic development of the young people and could not be over emphasized.
The commander said that the agency would continue to partner with other sisters agencies to curb the menance in the society.
He urged the public to collaborate with NDLEA by providing to the agency useful information that would help to apprehend drug peddlers in the state and the country at large.
Furthermore, Rosmary Ajuzie, the Assistant Zonal Commander, Drug Demand, Reduction Units, NDLEA Port Harcourt, Zone “N”, trained the principals on basics of drug abuse.
She said schools played and nurtured very crucial formative roles in shaping the behavior of young ones, and as such require adequate care and training of the students.
Ajuzie stated that the school drug education was not just to focus on the delivery of information to increase students knowledge and understanding, but could also contribute towards the development of skills and attitude that could help young ones to make safe choices in their lives.
Ajuzie said that the roles of the principals in drug abuse prevention education was multifaceted in sending beyond traditional, academic responsibilities.
Ajuzie mentioned some of the roles played by the principals as integration of drug abuse education in the school curriculum, to acquire skills and knowledge needed to make decisions and resist the temptation of drug or substance abuse.
Others are leadership and policy advocacy, rules and regulations, monitoring the students and their environment, early identification of drug abuse students, promotion of community engagement by teachers, students, parents and traditional rulers.
Similarly, Prof. Owunari George, the Vice Chancellor of the university, called for early sensitization to drug abuse, saying it would go a long way to stop students from premature death or harm.
George commended the NDLEA for bringing the awareness and its consequences, saying it had become a menace in schools.
He advised principals to be more alert on students activities and their environment, to save their lives.
He further assured that the University of Port Harcourt would continue to partner with NDLEA to keep the students safe from drug abuse.
