Students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Azare Community Study Centre, have taken the lead in the fight against drug abuse through a community-wide sensitisation campaign aimed at educating young people on the dangers of substance use.
The initiative, organised under the DES 303 Community Development course, was held at the Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, a venue the college management described as strategic for reaching a large number of students and youths.
In his remarks, the Provost of the college, Akiro Steven, stressed the importance of starting drug education early — from primary school through tertiary institutions — to effectively reduce substance abuse. “Grassroots awareness is the foundation for building a drug-free society,” he stated.
Event facilitator Rufai Aliyu encouraged proactive outreach and community participation, while Yakubu Abdullahi advocated continuous education and inter-institutional collaboration to sustain the anti-drug campaign.
During the health segment, Nursing Science students Abba Abubakar Mohammed and Bulama Medikko gave detailed presentations on the dangers of illicit substances, highlighting commonly abused drugs and explaining patterns of addiction and recovery.
Their message was reinforced by Assistant Superintendent Abdullahi Mohammed of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Azare Command, who assured participants of the agency’s continued support for public awareness and preventive education.
The management of the college commended NOUN students for their initiative and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting programmes that promote youth development, education, and public health in the community.
Source: Instagram | openuniversitynigeria
