Stakeholders urge action against drug abuse, sexual violence

Parents, government agencies, schools and other stakeholders have been urged to intensify efforts to tackle drug abuse and sexual violence among children and young people, with concerns growing over the threats the social vices pose to their future and society.

The call was made on Saturday at an awareness programme organised by the Abdulmajeed Omotayo Omoowo Islamic Centre, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, with the theme, “Raise Them To Rise.”

Dignitaries at the event included the wife of the 2027 Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Chief (Mrs) Adenike Adebutu; the party’s candidate for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency, Wale Ogunbanjo; and the founder of the Islamic Centre and Ogun East senatorial candidate, Alhaji Abdulmajeed Omotayo Omoowo.

The programme, which focused on drug abuse, sexual abuse and child protection, sought to sensitise parents, children and the wider society to the dangers of these social vices and encourage collective action to safeguard the younger generation.

Speaking at the event, Omoowo said the need to protect children from emerging social challenges informed the initiative.

He described children as society’s legacy, stressing that parents must provide them with the guidance, education and support needed to fulfil their potential.

“Our children are our legacy. It is very important that we give them the best opportunity to be the best they can be. We don’t succeed until our children succeed,” he said.

Omoowo observed that although drug abuse and sexual abuse had existed in society for a long time, many families continued to avoid discussing the issues, leaving children vulnerable.

He urged parents to educate themselves about the dangers of the vices and learn to recognise early warning signs.

According to him, the consequences of drug abuse extended beyond individual users to affect their families and entire communities.

“The impact of drugs on a family is not only on the victim. The entire family becomes the victim, and the entire community becomes the victim. All of us, together as a community, must say no. We will not accept drugs in our society,” he stated.

He expressed concern over increasingly sophisticated methods of distributing illicit substances, particularly reports that drugs were being concealed in cakes and other consumables, making them difficult to identify.

Omoowo called for a united front against the menace, insisting that individuals and community organisations could not tackle the problem without government support.

He urged the government to invest more in public awareness, rehabilitation, prevention and enforcement, while ensuring that perpetrators of sexual abuse were brought to justice.

The centre’s Director, Mrs Omobola Omotayo, said the rising cases of drug abuse and sexual violence in communities informed the decision to organise the programme.

Describing the situation as alarming, she said the initiative was designed to equip parents with the knowledge to identify behavioural changes and protect their children.

She said the programme was divided into sessions for parents and children, with parents taught how to recognise unusual behavioural patterns that could indicate that a child was experiencing difficulties.

“For the parents, the core lesson is to know their children. When there are changes, and they are not acting right, parents should be able to identify that something is wrong and start working on it,” she said.

She added that the children’s session was designed to build their confidence and help them appreciate their abilities and responsibilities.

According to her, drug abuse was a collective problem because the consequences of one person’s involvement in drugs could affect many others.

Also speaking, Adebutu commended the organisers, describing the programme as timely and necessary.

Adebutu urged parents to create an atmosphere that would encourage children to communicate freely about their experiences, fears and challenges rather than keep issues to themselves.

She expressed concern that many young people with the potential to become professionals and leaders were having their futures jeopardised by drug abuse.

Adebutu said the growing prevalence of drug abuse required urgent attention, adding that society must stop treating the problem as one that affected only other families.

She called for stronger action against drug dealers and urged the government to intensify efforts to remove illicit substances from the streets.

In her presentation titled “Protection Is Not Enough: How to Ensure Children Are Seen, Safe and Empowered,” a family therapist, Mrs Amina Yunus-Ali, stressed the importance of building strong emotional connections between parents and their children.

Yunus-Ali advised parents to understand their children’s personalities and establish relationships built on love, trust and reassurance before introducing rules and disciplinary measures.

She explained that children who felt secure and accepted at home would be less likely to seek validation or a sense of belonging through harmful activities outside the family.

The therapist urged parents to make their homes safe spaces where children could freely discuss their concerns and seek help without fear of rejection or harsh judgement.

The Assistant State Commander, Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ogun State Command, Mutiat Okuwobi, warned that the growing availability of illicit drugs in seemingly harmless products was exposing children and young people to serious dangers.

In her lecture on drug abuse, Okuwobi said substances were increasingly being concealed in biscuits, drinks and other consumables, while drugs such as Loud, Ice, Colorado, Skushi and Tramadol remained major concerns.

She urged parents, teachers and caregivers to watch out for physical and behavioural changes that could indicate drug abuse.

She warned that substance abuse could damage the brain, liver, kidneys and heart, while exposing users to psychosis, seizures, criminal activities and premature death.

According to her, warning signs include red or watery eyes, sudden weight changes, poor personal hygiene, slurred speech, unusual tiredness, mood swings, aggression, withdrawal from family activities, changes in friendship groups, stealing and declining academic performance.

She urged interested organisations to contact the NDLEA Ogun State Command or Phoenix House, Sagamu, for assistance.