Coal City Chancellor Seeks Improved Efforts in Tackling Drug Abuse in Nigeria

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The Chancellor of Coal University Enugu, Mr. Chinedu Ani, has said that there is an urgent need for improved collaboration among relevant agencies in tackling the menace of drug abuse, especially among secondary school students.

Ani made this known yesterday during the award ceremony of the second edition of Coal City University Chancellor’s Annual Essay Competition for senior secondary school students.

He said that the theme for this year’s competition, which is “Drug Abuse in Nigeria,” would not have come at a better time than now when there is an increasing rate of young Nigerians who are taking to drugs.

Ani, who instituted the essay last year, said that it would be an annual event to discover secondary school students and their potential and also create awareness about societal issues.

“Last year, it was climate change and this year, we chose drug abuse because we have seen how much of a problem it is causing in our society.

“It is worrying that the quality of secondary school education is progressively declining in Nigeria because of the increasing number of students who are exposed to the menace of drug abuse,” he said.

He also said that the essay is, therefore, intended to contribute to the efforts geared towards restoring the intellectual capacity of secondary school students in Nigeria and to inspire them to think about addressing societal ills.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Afam Ituma, explained that out of  547 entries from students across Nigeria, 20 were selected for the final round of the competition which includes an oral presentation of the essays, out of which the three best were awarded.

“We will publish all the recommendations contained in the essays as part of ways to address the challenge of drug abuse in Nigeria because it is a public health challenge that has the potential to destroy individuals, families and communities if not properly handled.”

In his address, former Minister of Power and Chairman of the Event, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said that the peer pressure, poor family upbringing and social media are some of the factors that contribute to the increasing rate of drug abuse in the country. 

“To maximise potentials, there is the need to stay off drugs because those who are giving to them contribute to the destruction of the society,” he said.

“Parents need to watch and take interest in the upbringing of their children and the children must not also regard parental negligence as a reason for taking to drugs,” Nebo said. 

The high points were the presentation of N500,000 to the first prize winner, N250,000 to the second prize winner and N150,000 to the third prize winner of the competition and certificates of participation to all participants.