Indigenes of Owu kingdom in Ogun State in collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has partnered to tackle the menace of drug abuse among youths in the country.
The partnership was revealed by the organising committee for this year’s Odun Omo Olowu festival which started on Monday, October 23rd, and will run till Saturday,October 28th.
According to the committee, one of the major issues that societies worldwide are battling with is substance abuse.
“We are all aware of the serious societal and health problems that this has created. We recently created an advocacy group to combat this challenge, in collaboration with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta; the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, Ogun State Command; and Positive Youths and Family Life Mission Centre, Abeokuta,” the committee noted.
The committee further said discussions on the ways to stop drug abuse will be a focal point as officers from the NDLEA will deliver a lecture primarily targeting the youth on the ills and dangers of substance abuse.
“We are actively collaborating with the NDLEA and the Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to address the menace of substance abuse, cultism, and hooliganism in secondary schools across our neighborhoods.”
The committee added that the festival is an opportunity for all sons and daughters from the Owu kingdom, both at home and abroad, to come together and promote the spirit of unity and pride of their heritage, as well as ‘strengthen relationships between Owu communities and our neighbors.’
Activities of the event include an interfaith religious service, free medical outreach, arts & crafts exhibitions, conferment of traditional and honorary chieftaincy titles within the kingdom.
