• Decry prevalence of drug use among students
The University of Ibadan (UI) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have expressed their readiness to work together to fight drug abuse, especially among university students.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, assured the state commander of the NDLEA, Olayinka Joe – Fadile, that the university would collaborate with the agency to fight against drug abuse.
Adebowale gave the assurance, while receiving Joe – Fadile during a courtesy call on the vice-chancellor in his office.
He said the university was doing its best through the Centre for Social Orientation and Counselling and Career Development Centre, to fight the menace of drug abuse and other identifiable negative tendencies.
The State Commander of the NDLEA said investigations had shown that there was an increase in drug usage among students from primary to tertiary levels, adding that the university was vulnerable.
He said his agency had discovered that the demography for age had dropped to 12 years, but while young children are unable to afford the expensive drugs, they are consuming all sorts of unconventional materials.
He said the NDLEA, however, does not see drug users as criminals, but as victims, who the agency is rehabilitating with the support of professional counsellors and psychologists in collaboration with the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. He disclosed that a functional rehabilitation centre had been established in Iseyin.
The State Commander recalled that the NDLEA had established the War Against Drug Abuse Club and invited the VC to create such a club within UI.
Joe–Fadile, in his remarks, said the NDLEA should be made part of the orientation programme for fresh students and other programmes to enlighten them and help the university produce graduates, who are worthy in character and learning.
