By Çleopatra Eki
Concerned about the menace of alcohol misuse and drug dependence within Nigeria which has gained globsl attention and curtail practices.
Freedom Foundation, in partnership with EU-ACT, British Council and other partners have commenced a state-wide advocacy and peer educators training with the aim to mitigate early initiation to drugs and alcohol intake with major focus on in-school youth across Lagos State.
Emmanuel Etim,Freedom Foundation Communications Manager made the call in Lagos, He disclosed that over 3,000 Students in Agege and Eti-Osa Local government Areas: in Lagos State have benefited from the project.
He added that,”The campaign kick-started in 2021 with a courtesy visit to various stakeholders within the community, seminars, workshops, radio tours, social media, Instagram live sessions and lots more.
The Foundation has hosted a community outreach that brought together residents of the community, teachers, community leaders, market leaders, trade union leaders, youth leaders, among others, to discuss the menace of substance use in within Lagos State, its effects on adolescents and youths and the need to form a coalition to educate in-school and out-of-school-aged youths in Lagos State on substance use prevention.
Oluwafemi Sanya, Project Cordinator Freedom Foundation disclosed that “The project has provided awareness, advocacy, information & resource dissemination to in-school aged youths, aged 10 – 19 years, on substance abuse that will help to prevent the early usage of drugs and other substances”- he emphasized.
Sanya said thatThe Foundation runs a drug rehabilitation programme (House of Refuge and Operation Better Life) that caters to the treatment and rehabilitation of persons dealing with substance abuse. Freedom Foundation, a non-profit organization, committed to social reformation through individual and community transformation.
In addition, the groups have engaged in several activities of this campaign include an online and offline peer educators’ life skills training, online community awareness, creation of drug-free clubs in secondary schools within the various communities in Lagos State.
Other programmes includes school advocacies, community drug prevention and medical outreaches, radio awareness among other awareness programmes. The campaign is set to end in March 2023.
He appreciated the gesture the
international organisations for partnering with indigenous organisations to reduce drug abuse amongst students across Lagos State.
