Minister of state for youth development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, has hinted of plans to engage more corps members in the fight against drug abuse and illicit consumption of other toxic substances in the country.
He said the consumption of hard drugs had contributed to youth restiveness and other social vices.
Olawande stated this yesterday, when he paid a courtesy visit, alongside the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Dr Oliver Stolpe, to the NYSC director general, Brigadier General Y.D. Ahmed in his office at the National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
The minister, who decried the increasing social vices especially among the youths, added that his office in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is organising a school-based drug prevention programme that would involve the teaching of life skills to students between age 12 to 16 years, so as to deal effectively with peer group pressure and stress-related challenges.
According to a press statement by the director, press and public relations of NYSC, Eddy Megwa, the minister further said the training would also entail how to engage non-violent conflict resolutions among members of the public.
He promised the support of his ministry for the NYSC, in order to consolidate on its laudable achievements.
“There is the need to engage the youths and also task them with good initiatives.
“Efforts must be intensified to reduce drug abuse among the youths because it is the foundation of increasing rate in social vices”, the minister said.
In his remarks, the director-general of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Y.D. Ahmed assured of the scheme’s readiness to partner with the office of the minister and United Nations (UN) country representative on drugs and crime.
He said a committee would be constituted by the NYSC, Minister’s Office and UN team to draw a blueprint for the collaboration.
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