Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has raised alarm that the harmful effects of drug abuse are increasingly taking toll on the youths, who are supposed to be future leaders of the country.
Otti made the observation when he declared open the 2024 annual national convention of the National Association of Nigerian Student Nurses and Midwives in Umuahia, the state capital.
“This symposium is a timely and much needed platform to explore the challenges posed by drug abuse and to create solutions for safeguarding the future of our nation,” he asserted.
Represented by his special assistance on students’ affairs, Chinedu Nwosu, he said the association is critical in the ongoing battle against drug abuse in the country through public sensitisation.
Otti, who noted that his administration had implemented many strategies against “the urgly development,” commended the association for choosing the state for the convention.
In his address earlier, the national president of the association, Obinna Ogbonna said the convention serves as a platform for the members to address both their professional and societal issues.
Ogbonna lauded both the governor and the state government for supporting the convention as well as the members for their attendance despite the inconveniences and challenges.
The convention, themed: ‘The effects of substance use among youths,” featured discussions on critical issues facing healthcare professionals and the society at large.
