COWA Nat’l President Urges Students To Shun Drug Usage, As She Leads Campaign To Secondary Schools

By Muhammad Bashir

The National President of Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) and wife of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mrs. Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday 25th June, 2024, urged children to maintain their goals of shaping their futures, by “shunning away” from illicit use of hard drugs.

Mrs. Adeniyi made this call when she led her executives and COWA members on a massive campaign against the menace of drug abuse at two junior secondary schools in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory: Junior Secondary School, Garki and Karu, to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The sensitization, which was co-organized by National Bridge and Bond Initiatives under the leadership of Barr. Festus Onifade, started at the Government Junior Secondary School, Garki, where she commended the principal and teachers of the school for giving COWA the enabling environment to stage their campaign for the students.

“On this historic day, COWA deemed it necessary to come to you, and encourage you all to be good citizens of this country. I am already seeing governors, president of this country and even officers’ wives – so dont agree to jeopardise your lives and give up your dreams by venturing into drug addiction.” COWA National President said.

The president, who described war against drug abuse as a collective responsibility for members of the society; encouraged all women to join forces to fight against drug abuse and illicit dealing in narcotics, so as to produce a generation.

Meanwhile, the COWA National President has visited the Government Junior Secondary School in Karu, Abuja, where she charged students to be wary of keying into drugs usage, as it give birth to deadly health issues, memory loss and other physical as well as spiritual disorder.

Mrs. Adeniyi said, “We, therefore, wish to encourage you to be good children. Listen to your parents and teachers more and always do what is right to make your country better. I was impressed with the way you expressed your candid responses before us here, but I would to let you know that we all make mistakes. However, that man is that who makes mistakes and grab lessons out of it.”

The President, who encouraged the students to be committed to learning to help them acquire useful knowledge and skills to build their future and that of Nigeria, saying that “we want you to support your nation by shying away from drugs. Be disciplined and avoid any form of misconduct either at school or at home to make our country better,” she added.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of Bridge and Bond Initiatives, Barr. Festus Onifade, appreciated COWA President and her team for organising the event.

The international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is observed annually on June 26, aiming to raise awareness of the problems of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

It also aimed to encourage action and cooperation to achieve a society free of drug abuse.

This year’s theme is ‘The evidence is clear: invest in prevention.’