21/08/2022
"BE OUR GOOD AMBASSADORS, SAY NO TO DRUGS ABUSE" - Polytechnic Rector Urges 'WADA-C' Students Wing
The pioneer set of War Against Drug Abuse-Club (WADA-C) of the 2021/2022 academic session, has been advised by the Rector of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara as well as the founder of Imani Foundation, Dr. Sha'ayau Shehu (Turakin Mafara,) to be good ambassadors of the institution and their respective communities while they engage in humanitarian services to save lives.
The Rector who hosted the inaugural lecture gave the advice on Saturday, for the War Against Drug Abuse Club (WADA-C).
The lecture organized by the committee was tasked with the responsibility of developing a student structure for increased awareness in the institution to fight drug abuse and illicit drugs trafficking.
In his address, Turakin Mafara stated that "you represent Abdu Gusau Polytechnic and your respective communities. Therefore, you are owing our revered institution the mandate to be good and do good for good results for all of us here and elsewhere."
"I think the school administration made the right choice in nominating you to lead the club for this academic session. Focus on the spiritual advantages you stand to gain from this project while keeping in mind your range of abilities and desire to advance humanities and recreate a drug-free society and good-natured people in our collective existence as a nation" the Rector further advised.
While drawing the attention of the students' wing of WADA Club, Dr. Sha'aya further pointed out that "as examples of drug influence, consider banditry and Boko Haram in Nigeria, where entering a farm, a home, or even a school is accompanied by intense fear. Why? Because of the high rate of drug abuse among the youths involved in the criminal activities, which fuels rising crime rates."
In his remarks during the gathering, Deputy Rector Administration QS. Sadik Abubakar Isah who represented the Polytechnic Rector at the event said "I have no doubt that with the help of this initiative, a drug-free society will be achieved. I pray that God will lead you perfectly as you serve the community to live a moral and upright life"
Mr. Philip Onuminya, CSN, a representative of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), also spoke "I must applaud the institution's leadership, led by Dr. Shaayau Shehu Mafara, for taking Bull by the horn, with all their mind and strength on the fight against drug abuse in the institution head-on and not backing down. Without a doubt, if drug facts are made public, lives will be saved."
While emphasizing to change the current narration about drug abuse in the country, he said "Let's change the story out of our country, where if a green passport is seen they see a suspect from Nigeria, even if you are not engage in any drug associate abuse, you will be kept for observation and other national will be allowed to go and Nigerian will remain for further scrutiny, and we can change it for good"
Justifying the consequences of drug abuse Mr. Onuminya noted that "drugs spoil three generations, if grandfather is taking, parents does as well and their kids are into it, then three generations are destroyed."
In their respective remarks, Mallam Shehu Mohammad Mafara, the Chairman of the War Against Drugs Abuse Committee, and Nasuru Na Allah, Dean of Students' Affairs, encouraged the new club's executives to ensure weekly and annual lectures to raise awareness in the institution and use more diplomatic efforts, preaching, and other methods to help those who abuse drugs.
Sani A. Garba
PR Unit