Gov Bagudu Commissions Sports, Recreational Centre, Kicks Against Drug Abuse

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.