The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has urged government to adopt the drug abuse awareness campaign designed by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for school curriculum.
Mr Nwankpa Chinazom, State President of ELPASO SSO Deck in Ekiti and Ondo States chapter of pirates confraternity, made the call during a debate organised by the association for the students of Ijapo High School and Baptist High School, all in Akure.
The topic of the debate was “Drug Abuse Among Youths: Beneficial or Not?”.
Chinazom said that it was imperative for all state governments and relevant stakeholders to intensify more efforts and ensure that youths shun all vices attributed to drug abuse in school and the society at large.
“Drug abuse is something that we must continue to talk about and no time will be enough for the menace which hard drugs have caused within our youths especially among teenagers.
“So, a lot of our youths are still roaming the streets mad, a lot of them leave schools, have pyscological problem such as depression and they get involved in a lot of vices due to drug abuse.
“We call on state governments because NDLEA has designed a curriculum that has inbuilt drug abuse awareness in schools so that students will learn them in the classroom.
“Some state governments have adopted the curriculum while some have not, so, if state governments could include it in their school curriculum, it will help curb the menace of hard drugs in our society,” he said.
While speaking on the debate, Chinazom, who said that the competition was the second series in the state, explained that it was organised to revive the debate culture among secondary school students.
“As an association,  we believe that if we caught them young, we will be able to reorient them on what we call value orientation to make sure that they are set on the right path,” he said.
Mr Callys Alumuna, the Acting State Commander of NDLEA, who was represented by Mr Steward Samuel, Senior Narcotic Officer, Ondo Command, appreciated the pirates confraternity for its collaboration in order to end drug abuse in schools and society at large.
According to him,  the issues of fight against hard drugs is not a one man business and it is not only the business of NDLEA,
“Parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders should come out and join hands in fighting this hard drugs abuse menace that is eating deep into the society, especially among our youths,” he said.
Mr Akinmoju Taiwo, Principal, Baptist High School, Akure, and Mrs Esther Olowoparija, Vice Principal, Administration, Ijapo High School, also in Akure,  who appreciated the association for the debate, said that it was educating to not only the students but also to teachers to know the effect of hard drugs in society.
“There is no gain saying that hard drug abuse is not beneficial and is not good to be used by students.
“We implore our students, and the society at large, not to involve in hard drugs abuse because it has harmful effects,” duo said.
A projector was presented to each of the participating schools by the pirates confraternity, as the Baptist High School came first in the debate.