International touring bikers group Jeje Riders Nigeria has commenced a national sensitisation campaign in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb the menace of drug abuse among students in schools.
The national campaign, flagged off at the Capital School, Yola, Adamawa State, on October 12, 2024, attracted dignitaries from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Cote d’Ivoire with a strong voice against drug peddling in schools.
The event was part of a two-day event that included the commissioning of an e-library donated by Jeje Riders Nigeria to Government Secondary School Michika on October 11, 2024.
Speaking on the occasion, the Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, said it is not a coincidence that the state is hosting the flag of the national campaign to fight drug abuse and peddling in school. He said Adamawa State has been at the forefront of the campaign to disabuse the minds of students across the state on drug abuse and its consequences for their lives.
Governor Fintiri, who was the special guest of honour at the event, was represented by the commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella.
The governor said, “Our dear student, I believe that so much has been said about the menace of drug abuse. I believe you are not leaving this place without a resolution that you will never partake in drug
abuse. Don’t even start it so that you will get addicted.
“The first rule is don’t start it, because once you start, the tendency of getting addicted is high. So please don’t even start it. It’s been said by various speakers here that drug abuse destroys life. It doesn’t destroy the future, but it destroys your life. It destroys your present, so don’t come close.”
The governor commended all the riders that came from all over Nigeria and African states to join in the campaign, assuring them that Adamawa State will take over the campaign and lead it when they leave the
state.
The NDLEA chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), said in his address that the battle against drug abuse and peddling cannot be won by the agency alone; “it requires a collective effort, and today we witness a perfect example of what collaboration can achieve.”.
General Marwa, represented by the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Adamawa State Command, Mr Agboalu Femi Samson, reiterated that Adamawa is blessed to have unwavering support in the fight against drugs through the establishment of the state drugs control committee.
He commended Governor Fintiri’s commitment to youth development, education, and security, which has laid the foundation for a state that is resilient against crime.
The president and chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT) of Jeje Riders Nigeria, Ibrahim Mathew Tizhe, while delivering his opening remarks, said the reason behind the passion of Jeje Riders’s effort in youth
development is to see a better and prosperous Nigeria propelled by sound education and a healthy lifestyle.
The principal, Capital School, Yola, Tari Luk appreciated the gesture of Jeje Riders towards improving the healthy living of students not at Capital School but the entire Adamawa State by flagging off the
sensitisation program in the school.
At the commissioning of the e-library donated by the group to Government Secondary School Michika, the president of Jeje Riders, Tizhe, said the group decided to support the Adamawa State education
system by donating a fully integrated ICT Centre with laptops, 163′ TV, 15 KVA battery, 5000 watt inverter, desks, tables, and solar panels.
Delivering their goodwill messages at the event, the president of Cameroon Bikers, Issa Faycal, said the ICT centre’s donation is a good example for Cameroon bikers. “So in my country we have to make it
possible. When I return, I will have all my members and Jeje Riders do this, so that next year we can also donate something like this to the government,” Faycal said.
While a female biker from Ghana, Hajara Baba Mahama, in her goodwill message admonishes the students to make good use of the centre to be fruitful in life.
For veteran biker Amasike TP, who traveled 1,600 km on bike from Imo State to Yola to grace the occasion, the lack of computer skills has been a challenge to several students passing JAMB exams.
He urged the students to take advantage of the ICT centre to improve their knowledge: “With this now, just look at the pass rate of students of this community in the coming JMAB exams,” he said.
Other speakers include a veteran biker, Aisha Vatsa (Flygirl), the president of Bikers In Nigeria (BIN), Nengi, and Colonel A.A. Johnson (Commander, Operation Safe Corridor), a biker from Gombe.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Member representing Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency, Hon. Zakaria Nyampa, who commissioned the ICT Centre at GSS Michika. He was represented by Kwabe Ushiwa.
Others in attendance were the Lawan of Michika, Gwamna, the Principal of the Government Secondary School Michika, Samaila Kwabe, who gave a vote of thanks, as well as teachers, students, and parents.
