DELSU VC, Professor Egwunyenga, Advocates A Multilateral Approach In Fighting Illegal Drugs

The need for the country to adopt a multilateral approach which includes stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, medical groups, religious bodies, educational and other institutions in the fight against illegal trade and use of drugs has been stressed by the Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), Professor Andy Egwunyenga.

Jan 19, 2024 - 15:54

DELSU VC, Professor Egwunyenga, Advocates A Multilateral Approach In Fighting Illegal Drugs

The need for the country to adopt a multilateral approach which includes stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, medical groups, religious bodies, educational and other institutions in the fight against illegal trade and use of drugs has been stressed by the Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), Professor Andy Egwunyenga, Myschoolnews gathered.

Professor Egwunyenga was speaking on Monday, January 15, 2024 in his office when he received a high powered team of the Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The Professor of Parasitology and Public Health who has been in the saddle for the past four years, emphasized the need for a preventive and holistic strategy in handling the hydra-headed problems of illegal drugs in the country, adding that the University had been grappling with the problem in the academic community of over 30,000 students.

He admitted that the poverty deprivation under which the students lived, as well as the overpowering influence of social media were contributory factors to the social menace of drug abuse in the academic community and far beyond. He recalled an incident when he was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, when one of their friends fell under the influence of illicit drugs which altered his personality, but added that the University authorities quickly rallied to his support and he was rehabilitated within record time.

Expressing gratitude at the visit, Professor Egwunyenga expressed optimism that the effort of the authorities of NDLEA could ameliorate the problem especially with a constructive collaboration with the management of DELSU.

The Vice-Chancellor who is giving DELSU an enlightened and committed leadership, emphasized the need to engage the students in the language they understood through constant advocacy and the establishment of drug-free clubs which would draw their attention to the destructive effect of illicit drugs. He promised that during the orientation programme for fresh students, a few days away, NDLEA officials would be permitted to interact with the students with their anti-drug message. “The officials are expected to listen to them and know their concerns. We like the students to express themselves. We don’t like the peace of the graveyard in the University”, he said.

Professor Egwunyenga who received a Yuletide award for his commitment to human rights issues, emphasized the need to carry out research in different aspects of the drug problem with a view to proffering solutions, adding that “we must watch our children and discourage them from getting involved in drugs”.

Speaking at the occasion, the leader of the delegation, and Delta State Commander of the NDLEA, Barrister Abubakar Wada praised the Vice-Chancellor and his management team for the wonderful job they were doing at the University, praying that they be blessed and be a blessing to the state and the country at large.

The State Commander who resumed in Delta last September said that their mission was to inform the University management of their activities and seek their collaboration and support. The Katsina state born Barrister Wada told his hosts that the rate of drugs abuse was very high in the country, at the family, community, state and federal levels. The anti-drug officer who led a seven-man delegation to DELSU explained that in addition to pursing and arresting drug dealers, by being at strategic routes, the agency was also in the habit of advocacy where it rubbed minds with different stakeholders, including traditional rulers, educational institutions, etc, with a view to educating them on the ravages of hard drugs and to encourage users to desist from the costly habit.

According to the lanky officer, cannabis stevia and tramadol are some of the drugs often abused in the state, identifying Abraka, Agbor, Asaba and Ughelli as high risk areas. He explained that the agency was doing all it could in addressing drug abuse to drastically reduce their availability as it was one of the predisposing factors. “We are making a lot of efforts to take the drugs away from the streets to reduce demand”, he said. The State Commander promised to draft the officer in charge of counselling to interact with the fresh students who would be officially admitted into the University on Saturday, January 20, 2024 during the matriculation ceremony.

At the occasion, Barrister Wada decorated the Vice-Chancellor with an official insignia signifying his support for the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). Other senior University administrators present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor (Mrs) Rosemary Okoh; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ochuko Anomohanran; the Bursar, Mrs. Otimeyin Ekakite-Omojuwa; the Registrar who was represented by a Deputy Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Okoro; the University Librarian, Dr. Mrs. Josephine Onawhakpo; the Director of the University Counselling Centre, Professor Jude Obiunu and the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Maxwell Iwegbue.

It will be recalled that since the appointment of a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Retired Brigadier-General Muhammed Buba Marwa, the war against illicit drugs has been on the upswing with officers of the agency arresting many alleged drugs traffickers.