Kebbi State governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku said curbing the raging
drugs menace in the country requires collective efforts.
The chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum spoke in Birnin Kebbi when he
commissioned the Kawara Sports and Recreational Centre.
The establishment of the Recreational Centre is part of the efforts of
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, the First Lady of Kebbi State and the
Northern Governors Wives Forum to address the drug menace in the
state.
This is contained in a statement by Special Adviser (SA) Media to
Kebbi State governor Yahaya Sarki and made available to LEADERSHIP.
According to the statement the commissioning coincided with the 2022
International Youths Day, as well as the Quarterly Meeting of the
Wives of the Northern Governors (NGWF) which held in Birnin Kebbi.
The Kebbi State governor emphasized that a multi-sectoral effort is
required to make the society drug-free.
The governor acknowledged the unwavering commitment of his wife, Dr.
Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu and her colleagues from the NGWF to curb the
drugs menace in the state, North and Nigeria in general.
He also lauded her for providing credible leadership as part of the
state’s drug control committee as well as diligently being a
supportive pillar to him.
Bagudu commended the members of the forum as well as those at the
national level for being worthy and dependable allies to their
spouses.
The governor similarly acknowledged the attorney general of the
federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN who was
present and under whose oversight agencies such as NDLEA that combat
drug abuse lie; for being a worthy ambassador of the state.
The AGF in a remark said Governor Bagudu and Dr Zainab Shinkafi
Bagudu have shown commitment to the development of the state.
He described their efforts to eradicating the drugs menace as
unparalleled and said that the centre will provide an avenue for the
youths to positively use their abundant energies.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu said the centre
would help to reduce the incidence of drugs abuse and lauded her
husband for his sustained invaluable support to ensure the success of
all her activities. She described youths in the state as very vibrant,
energetic and innovative.
She also acknowledged that Kebbi State under the leadership of Senator
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has invested greatly in youth development and
involvement.
Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu further mentioned some of the ongoing programmes
she initiated to reduce drug abuse as well as highlighted the
collaboration between the state and development partners like the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to fight drug abuse in the
state.
The chairperson of the Northern Governors Wives’ Forum, Hajiya Hadiza
Isma El-Rufai commended Bagudu and his wife for the kind and warm
reception.
She acknowledged the support of Bagudu in ensuring the VAPP law and
Child Rights Act, as well as logically implementing myriads of other
people-oriented policies and programmes.
The chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Wives’ Forum, and wife of the
Ekiti State governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, who was in Kebbi to support her
colleagues said they have been working hard to support their husbands
to deliver the direly needed dividends of democracy.
In a message, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buha Marwa
represented by a director in the agency, Mrs. Ngozi lauded Dr. Zainab
Shinkafi Bagudu for doing a lot to stem the tide of drugs abuse in the
state, particularly the “Unplugged Program’ , she initiated, the only
one launched in Nigeria. The first lady has also provided a female
only rehabilitation centre within the NDLEA.
