Obekwu Agaba
Our Society Been Eaten Up By Drug Abuse – NGO
A non governmental organisation (NGO), has lamented that Nigeria’s society is at a dangerous slide of drug abuse,which requires urgent action.
Founder of Godly Prosperous Souls Outreach Centre, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, Pastor Adenike Ojofowowe expressed this when speaking to newsmen as part of activities to mark this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on Monday June 26, 2023.
“The society is been eaten up by drug abuse. We go out, we don’t just see adults, but minors and even pregnant women in the jungles.
“There are some societies when you go out it is filled with bars and where they smoke,” she said .
According to her, she feels the pain of mothers and family members when addiction is taking their loved one away.
“Drug addicts are being stigmatised in the society, not knowing that they need to be loved and channelled to proper paths to fulfil their destinies,” she added.
According to her, in their quest at ending the drug abuse menace, they go to secondary schools and hold pre drugs campaign to catch them young and disabuse their mids from indulging in drugs.
“We show them the dangers of drug abuse. We let them know they must not allow themselves to be hooked.
“It is better you catch them before they start the act.
“We also go to jungles, take their permission and talk to them before you know, you see some of them come for our meetings on Tuesdays.
“We do career talks and put them on the part of God. We go to keke bus stops and talk to them because most of them use drugs.
“We have people that have been reformed for up to six months and a year. We thank God for the success and pray for more grace,” she explained.
Pastor Ojofowowe said that they decided to invite the press to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, to touch more lives.
“We have started this for over a decade, but we put this foundation here for two years at this centre.
“Plus or minus, we have affected hundreds of people but our contact with people runs into thousands,” she revealed.
She commended Dr. Joseph Maigari, the Director General of KADBUSA, who she said been supportive.
“He usually comes and give talks to our reformers and encourages them.
“The DG KADBUSA said that they would put up more centres in Kaduna for us to refer those who need treatment,” she added.
Speaking further, she said that they have some of their team members as psychiatric nurses, “for those that need treatment, in our own little way we facilitate that.”
She blamed ignorance, environment, genetics as some of the factors that lead to drug addiction and abuse.
“Other factors leading to addiction are peer pressure and lack of jobs. What is happening in life is putting pressure on so many people. Even adults, who are under pressure try to cool off and before you know, they become addicts,” she said.
She explained that some of the dangers of drug addiction include broken homes, street children and a vice filled society.
“When you leave your children in the streets and they get hooked up, it poses more dangers to the society.
“Then the pregnant women, when they do drugs, it affects the child,” she said.
The founder of the centre advised that in view of the dangers inherent in drug abuse, traffickers should be kept away from the public for a long time.
“When the traffickers are arrested, they should not be set free easily,” she stressed.
We don’t get findings till now, our own personal finances, and support from team members is how we are doing this. We have staff we pay, we print handbills and others.
On how they get funds to run the centre, she explained that it has not been easy, but appreciated the support of volunteers.
“As you reform your reformers and they don’t have something to do, there is a chance of relapse. We are looking for people who can help such, we have one or two willing to do that, by engaging them into apprenticeship or job offers.
“We want to say thank you to our doctors and nurses, they have been very helpful in lecturing our reformers.
“We are using this medium to solicit for support from the governor, corporate organisations and public spirited individuals,” she said.
In his remarks, her husband, Pastor Mike Ojofowowe explained that as part of efforts to rid the society of drug addiction, they have held several rallies, with all of our reformers and loud speakers were used at flash points, sending out their messages.
“We have done outreaches in Sabo Bus stop, we have done in Gonin Gora, we have done in Maraban Rido,” he added.
One of the reformers, Morris Wheymen said that the programme has impacted his life positively.
He said that he has in turn, started inviting his friends that are addicts to come and join so that they can lead a meaningful life, by giving up drugs.
Godly Prosperous Souls Outreach Centre has as part of its messages, saying, “No to drug addiction, no to broken homes/marriages, no to lives defectiveness, yes to prosperity of souls.”